! 

i 


ROSS'     FAMOUS     FIGHT    WITH     COMANCHE    CHIEF,    BIG    FOOT 


Border  Wars  of  Texas 


Being  an  Authentic  and  Popular  Account,  in  Chronological 

Order,  of  the  Long  and  Bitter  Conflict  waged  Between 

Savage  Indian  Tribes  and  the  Pioneer 

Settlers  of  Texas. 


Wresting  of  a  Fair  Land  From  Savage  Rule 
A  Red  Record  of  Fierce  Strife 

Profusely  Illustrated  with  Spirited  Battle  Scenes  uy  Spe- 
cial Artists.     Rare  Portraits  of  Famous  Rangers, 
Indian  Fighters  and  Pioneers,  Maps,  Etc. 


By 

JAMES  T.  DE  SHIELDS 

Member  Texas  Historical  Association 

Author  of  "Frontier   Sketches,"   "Texas  Border  Tales, 
"  Cynthia  Ann  Parker,  the  Story  of  Her  Capture,"  "Life 
of  Jack  Hays."  "Stephen  Puller  Austin,"  "Sam  Hous- 
ton and  Texas,"  "Siege  of  the  Alamo,"  Etc. 


MATT  BRADLEY 
Revising  Editor  and  Publisher. 


1912 

THE    HERALD  COMPANY 

TIOC3A.  TEXAS 


Copyrighted  1912 
By  MATT  BRADLEY,  TIOGA.  TEXAS 


DEDICATED 

TO 

The  Sons  and  Daughters  of  Those  Noble  Pioneer 
Fathers  and  Mothers 

Who,  boldly  entering  the  savage-infested 
wilderness,  battled  so  bravely  for  supremacy; 
and  which  finally  obtaining,  made  possible  all 
the  glorious  blessings  that  have  followed. 
Dangers  and  hardships  they  endured,  the  in- 
estimable heritage  bequeathed,  we  now  enjoy. 
All  honor  to  the  pioneers  of  Texas,  than  whom 
there  were  none  more  courageous  and  in- 
domitable. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


_ ^ — 

■Jv 

1     - 

1 

as^ 

1 

91'    : 

FOREWORD 


The  present  volurn'O  is  tbe  progressedi'  efforts  of  tlie  au- 
thor's long  cherisbeid  d-esign  to  preparei  a  popular  and  reli- 
abl'e  narratiV'e  of  border  warfare  and  Teixas  frontier  hLStory> 
no  satisfactory  account  in  conne<jteid  form  having)  ever  be- 
fore appe-ared;  indeed  it  is  the  first  serious  attempt  in  that 
direction,  and  the  author's  purpose  will  Imve  been  aceom- 
plish'cd  if  it  sho»uld»  prove  of  value  and  be  handed  down  to 
posterity  with  increasing  initerest  tO'  each  generation,  which 
is  but  natural  as  we  recede  further  and  further  from  that 
dark  era  of  fearful  strife  so  long  waged  between  the  red 
men  and  their  white  conquerors. 

Let  the  reader  remember  tbat  this  work  has-  been  put 
forth  and  executed  through  great  labor  and  painstakinjg  re- 
search for  data,  and  a  judicious  sifting  of  the  wheat  from 
the  chaff,  that  the  story  might  cosaform  tx>  truth,  andJ  thus 
posisessi  a  positive  value,  a  mine  of  historical  wealth  which 
will  prove  the  most  wholesome  of  mental  pabulum ;  though 
the  story  be  told  with  lack  of  facilenessi;  with  more  regard 
for  esa-ctness  of  sitatement  th-an  ornatemess  of  style  or 
grandiloquence. 

The  complete  story  in  all  its  thrilling  details  will  never 
be  told,  from  the  lack  o.f  reliable  data  and  because  of  the 
vastness  of  such  an  undertaking — a^  so  fittingly  expressed 
by  the  versatile  J.  H.  Beadle,  as  he  crossed  Red  River  into 
Texas  on  his  tiour  of  the  '' Western  "Wilds " : 

"Here  wei  enter  the/  lamd  of  border  romance.  Hence  to 
the  Riio  Oraaide  southwest,  and  to  the  Rocky  Ridge  west  and 


6  FOREWORD 

northW'Cst,  every  grove,  canyon  and  valley  lias  bc'ein  the 
scene  of  some  romantic  and  daring  incident ;  but  should  I  at- 
tempt to  repeat  all  tliat  are  toM  here,  the/  world'  itself,  to 
borrow  a  simil^e  from  Scripture,  would  mot  contain  the  books 
that  should  be  written." 

Very  properly  the  n,arrative  opens  with  the  arrival  of 
the  first  American  settlers  within  the  game  preserves  of  thte 
native  and  ferocious.  Caranchua  tribe — the  present  volume 
ehronicli'ng  the  bitter  strife  down  through  the  colonial  and 
revolutionary  periods,  aiid  closing  with  the  last  days  of  the 
Texas  Republic;  a  s^eeond  volume  covering  the  era  of  state- 
hood' and  ending  with  the  last  conflict  between  red  and 
white  men  on  Texas  soil,  in  comparatively  recent  years. 

Along  this  lino  our  State's  history  has  beem  sadly  defi- 
cient, and  tradition  only  has  preserved  much  of  deep  inter- 
est for  the  pen  of  the  faithful  historian.  The  present  work, 
however,  does  not  aspire  to  the  dignity  of  a  State's  history, 
but  rather  as  an  urn  in  which  are  gathered  the  fragments, 
sifted,  and  shorn  of  fiction;  and  w,hich  may  serve  the  con- 
scientious and  capable  historian  to  weave  a  more  complete 
chronicle  of  a  matchless  and  incomparable  history. 

For  more  than  a  third  of  a  century  the  writer  has  util- 
ized hisi  spare  moments  in  the  (gathering  o(f  materials  for 
this  work;  narratives  of  Indian  hostilities  to  the  early  set- 
tlers and  subsequently  against  the  frontier  settlers;  verify- 
ing reporits  of  engagements  by  imtexviews  with  many  of  the 
actors  ajDid  eye  witnessesi  o<f  the  actions  and  events  related, 
and  by  untiring  and  voluminous  correspotmdence  with  oth- 
ers and  with  those  besit  informed  on  thei  early  hlistory  of 
settlements  and  affairs  of  the  frontier;  of  course  carefully 
consulting  all  published  hiistories,  and  especially  files  of 
our  early  newspapers — the  most  profitable  source  oif  all — 
no  effoirfts  having  been  spared  in  amy  direction  to  attain  a 
completeness  of  facts,  and'  hence  I  may  confidently  say  that 
no  other  history  has'  been  written  that  has  been  so  carefully 
collated  from  original  sourcesi  of  information  upon  the 
subject  toi  which  it  relates,  and  I  might,  perhaps,  also  say 
that  nqne  will  ever  be.      The  early    selttlers    are  not  <mly 


FOREWORD  7 

passing  away,  buti  have  passed.  The  re'coU^cticu'si  of  the 
few  who  remain  can  add  but  little,  eafther  of  n.iirrative  or 
correctiom,  to  the  d-efectivie  riecord  as  a  whole,  of  Indian 
hostilities. 

Historians  have  often  regretted  that  ,tbe  read-er  cam  be 
but  imperfieictly  iaitix>dTieed'  to  the  private  and  domestic  life 
of  the  people.  Tih©  (dignity  of  couiacils,  the  parade  of  camp^ 
a.nd)  armies,  prevent  the  hLs-tioriaia  from  attempting  the 
''short  and  simple  annals  of  the  poor."  The  history  of  In- 
dian hostilities,  in  some  me>asure  incidentally  suppliesi  fcliis 
defect,  affording  a  glimpse  of  the  people  as  they  weire,  viv- 
id and  faithful  as  a  photograph. 

I  can  afay  that  the  impao-tial  truth  of  history  has  been 
slrrictly  adhereid  ,to  in  thie  pa^ges  now  befofre  the  iretader. 

Of  whatever  value  o(r  importance  this  history  may  be  to 
present  or  future  times,  the  events  ^viiiich  it  relates  aq^e,  and 
always  will  be,  the  beginning  of  Texas  histo-ry.  The  Indians 
will  always  appear  in  the  opening  ohiapters,  aaidJ  their  wild, 
uinieouth  figuresi  will  be  defined  on  tlie  horizon  to  whicJi  at- 
tentiicm  will  be  first  directed,  while  theiir  opposers  and  final 
conquerors,  tiie  equally  ciourageous  and  daunjtless  pio(nee<rs 
and  border  troopers  will  stride  boldly  forth  in  the  gtreat  pa- 
geant atnd  mingle  freely  in  every  page  of  the  fiery  and 
blood^iteeking  border  history. 

The  sieienDes  here  recounted^  the  deeds  of  prowess,  actl*  of 
herioism,  tales  of  ladventure,  cruel  sufferings  and  harnofwimg 
events  portrayed,  will  never  again  be  enaeted;  there  larte  no 
more  f rontiiens  to  be  defended,  the  day  and  usefulness  of  tlue 
pioneer  is  past ;  the  Indian,  as  a  foe,  is  forever  gone ;  there 
will  never  be  more  border  Wiars. 

JAMES  T.  DeSHIELDS. 

Sam  Marcos,  Tesias,  October,  1912. 


Editor's  Note 


In  presenting  this  volume  of  Texas  Border  History 
to  tine  public,  the  editor  does;  so  with  positive  faith  and'  eon- 
fid-en<?e  in  the  author's  ability,  cottinag'.e'  amd  strict  adhei*- 
enice  t-Oi  the  truth.  As>  a  I'esas  historian]  hiisi  wiotrks  are  ac- 
cepted as  authority  by  tlie  be&t  ediucators  of  the  laind;  while 
his  unflintchinig'  r^igard  for  authenticated'  facts,  m  the  facie  of 
popular  biut  fictitious  tra/ditions,  is  unqueistioned.  His  selec- 
tion, over  mamy  compe.titors,  by  the  Alamo  Heroes'  Monu- 
ment Association,  toi  write  the  "Story  of  the  Siege  of  the 
Alamo",  ishows  the oindoubted  merit  of  his  writings  on  nota- 
ble Texas  evients,  and  gives  added  weiigfht  to  this  woo^k. 

While  tJi'e  labor  oft  thei  editor  has  bieen  stupendous  amd 
long  comtiniued,  he  feels  that  the  ircisults  attained  more  than 
compensates  the  arduous  toil. 

He  sends  forth  this  volume  with  much  confidence  that  it 
will  (fiill  a  long  felt  want  in  Texas  history. 

MATT  BRADLEY,  Tioi^a,  Texas. 

NovembetT,  1912. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 
1819-23— Early  Conditions— First  Fight  —  A-ustin's  In- 
fant Colony — Skmll  Cre^k  Encounters — Horse  Thievesi — The 
Famous  Canoe  Fiiglit — Fight  'in  the  Cane  Brake  —  Austin 
Leads  Expedition  Against  Carancbuas^ — Last  off  the  Caran- 
ehuas. 

CHAPTER  II. 

1824-25 — Caranchoia  Depredations — Early  Trials  of  De- 
Witt's  Colonists — Edwards'  Colony  and  the  Fredonian  War 
— Austin's    Letter — Rebellion  Ends. 

CHAPTER  III. 
1826-29— Hostility  of  Wild  Tribes— War  Againt  Them— 
Fighi*  Near  OM  Cabiai — Tihe   San    Saba    Expedition — Early 
Border   Chiefs — Abner   Kuykendall — Henry  S,  Birown — Mur- 
deir  of  Elijah  Roark. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

1830 — Inteimal  Affairsi — Wacos  and  Cheroke'esi  Fight 
— Cherokee  anid  Tehuacaaia  Fight — Sundry  Engagements  — 
1831 — Bowie's  Famous  Figlit. 

CHAPTER  V. 
1832 — Shawnees  and  Comanches — Battle     of     Velasco — 
Ad  La*wreiiee 's  Leap. 

CHAPTER  VI. 
1833 — Internal     Matters^ — Memorial  to^  Congre&S' — Scalp- 
ing of  Wilbarger — Other  Depredations — Madden  Massacre. 


10  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  VII. 
1834 — Summary  of  Internal  and  Oth^r  Events — Murder 
of  Judg.e  Gabriel  N.  Martin — Corrected]  History  of  Ev^ent — 
Recov'eiry  of  Son — Frontier  Troubles. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

1835 — Massacre  of  tilie  Traders — ^Fight  on  tlie  San  Mar- 
cos— Battle  on  tbe  Blanco — Marder  of  Canoma — Routing  of 
Kee<;his  —  Coleman's  Fight — Moore's  Expedition  —  Heroic 
Defense  of  tJie  Taylor  Family — Trials  of  Early  Emigirants 
— Murder  of  the  Rancheros — Fate  of  Peter  Mercer — Other 
Encounters. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

1836 — ^Biirth  of  the  Lone  Star  Republie — Failure  of 
Beale's  Colony — The  Sad  Sequel-^Iurder  of  t'h©  Douglas 
and  Daugherty  PamiUesi — Pioneer  Times  in  Robertson's 
Colony — Killing  of  Crouch  and  Davidson — Capt.  Hill's  Sca-ap 
—Murder  and)  Capture  of  the  McLennans — Fall  of  Parker's 
Fort — Cynthia  Ann  Paa:iker  and  John  Parker — Ctliief  Quanah 
Parker — Death  of  MoSheirry  and  Stinnett — Killing  of  Hib- 
bins  and  Creath — ^The  Harvey  Massacre^ — Capture  of  Mrs. 
Yeaxgin  and  Children — ^Fate  of  the  Reeds — Killingi  of  Ed- 
wards— ^^Troubleis  in  the  Hornsby  Settlement — Davidson  Let- 
ter. 

CHAPTER  X. 

1837 — Internal  Affairs^ — Murder  of  Gotcihea*  Family — 
Captnre  of  Mrs.  Crawford  and  three  Children — Lieut.  Wren's 
Fight — Murder  of  Congressman  Robinson  and)  Brother — Lit- 
tle River  Fort — Erath's  Famous  Fig'ht — Killing  of  tlie  Faul- 
kenburys  and  Anderson — Death  of  James  Coryell — Capture 
of  Warren  Lyons^ — Indians  Ambush  Tliire©  Settlers — The 
"Stone  House"  Fight — Mur'der  of  Kellough  Families — Kill- 
ing of  McCuUom  and  Capt.  Rogers — Post  Oak  Springs  Mas- 
siacre — Gen.  Jolm  B.  Hood's  Brilliant  Victory. 
CHAPTER  XI. 

1838 — Progress  and  Prosperity — ^Treaties  with  the  In- 
dians— Battle  Creek  Fight — Other  Surveying  Expeditions — 
Pioneer  Mothers  of  Texas — Early  Days  of  Bastrop — Captain 


CONTENTS  11 

Harvey's  Adventure — ^Karnes'  Famous  Fight — Capture  of  Ma- 
tilda Lockhart  andJ  the  Putnam  Children — Incidents  Around 
San  Antonio — Beginning  of  Cordova's  Rebellion — Defeat  of 
the  Kickapoos — ^Routing  the  Comanches — Lamar's  Reign. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

1839 — The  Morgan  Massacre — Attack  ooi  Marlin's  House 
— Bryant's  Fight  and  Defeat— Fate  of  the  Websters--Bird 
Creek  Battle — Col.  Moore 's  San  Saba  Fight — Murd^er  of  Cap- 
tain Coleman's  Family — The  Cordova  Rebellion — Expulsion 
of  the  Cherokees — Rights  of  the  Cherokees — Locating  the 
Capital  at  Austin — Capt.  Howard's  Skirmish — Death  of  "The 
Bowl"  and  ''The  Egg". 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

1840 — Famous  Coun<iil  House  Fight — The  Great  Coman- 
che Raid — ^Sacking  of  Linville  and  Victoria — Battle  at  Plum 
Creek — Huston's  Official  Report — Attack  on  Kinney's  Fort 
— Jack  Hays  Fights  War  Party — ^Captain  Erath's  Servicesr— 
Beginning  of  San  Marcos — Moore's  Great  Victory — Indian 
Troubles  Along  Red'  Riveir — Fate  of  a  Pion-eer  Family — Oth- 
er Tragedies — Saving  Osborne 's  Scalp. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
1841 — Internal  Affairs — Indiabi  Hostilities — Official  Re- 
ports of  Border  Doings — Ben  McCuUough  Routs  Indians — 
Serviees  of  Chandler's  Rangers — Bird's  Fort — Gen.  Tarrant's 
Expedition — Village  Creek  Fight — Death  of  Denton — Other 
Expeditions  Against  Indians^ — The  Santa  Fe  Expedition — 
Battle  in  Canon  De  Uvalde — Border  Banditti — Capt.  Erath's 
Fight — Death  of  Major  Heard. 

CHAPTER  XV. 
1842-45 — Peace  or  War — ^Houston's  Indian  Talks — ^Hous- 
ton's Indian  Pow  Wow — Houston's  Indian  Treaty — Death  of 
Chief  Big  Foot— The  Hand  to  Hand  Struggle— Fate  of  the 
Gilkland  Family — Story  of  the  Heroine — Last  Raid  into  An- 
derson County — Capture  of  the  Simpson  Children — Murder 
of  Capt.  Kemper — The  Later  Colonies — The  Republic  of  Tex- 
as Isi  No  More — The  End. 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

Ross'  Fight'with  Chief  Big  Foot— Frontispiece  Facing  Page 

The  Author  and  the  Editor 5 

Long's  Fight  on  Galveston  Island 16 

"O  Lord  Mary  Ann's  A  Widow,"  and  "Gone  to  Burnham's." 17 

The  Canoe  Fight'and  Fate  of  the  Bee  Tree  Hunters 32 

The  Lurking  Foe  and  "Take  it  D n  You" 33 

Stephen  F.  Austin 48 

Sam  Houston 49 

Mirabeau  B.  Lamar 64 

Albert  Sidney  Johnston 65 

Wallace,  Williams,  Fosterland  Moses  Austin 80 

Tyler.  Harvey,  Davidson  and  Henderson 81 

Bowie's  Famous  Fight 88 

James  and  Rezln  P.  Bowie 89 

Lane,  Anglin,  Edwards  and  Robertson  96 

DeWitt,  Sylvester.  Robinson  and  Thompson 97 

Scalping  of  Wilbarger 112 

The  Cherokee's  Revenge 113 

Massacre  of  the  Traders 128 

Ad  Lawrence's  Famous  Leap 129 

Henry  and  Ben  McCuIloch.  Jack  Hays .  160 

The  Parkers 161 

Bryan,  Erath,  Jones  and  Coleman 176 

Ross,  Brown,  Stout  and  Highsmith    177 

Defense  of  the  Taylor  Family 208 

Erath's  Fight  with  an  Indian 209 

Walter  P.Lane  rescues  Euclid  M.  Cox 224 

Robinett  Killing  Chief  Buffalo  Hump 225 

Davis,  Wilbarger,  McKinney  and  Anglin 256 

Monument  to  Battle  Creek  Heroes 257 

The  Capital  at  Austin  in  1844 272 

Hays'  Texas  Rangers  in  1844 273 

Scene  at  Parker's  Fort  Massacre 304 

Famous  Council  House  Fight. 305 

Battle  at  Plum  Creek 320 

Death  of  Denton 321 

Charging  the  VUlags _ 368 

Hoaaton'B  Indian  Pow  wow „ _ 359 

Map  of  Texas,  Showing  Colonie* _ _ 334 

Map  of  Texas.  Showing  Roads  an^  Blvers 385 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS 


HE  history  of  th^at  period  in 
which  the  Spaniards  occupied 
Texas — 1690  to  the  Mexican  rev- 
olution in  1820 — and  not  inap- 
propriately caikd  "The  Mission 
Era,"  has  much  to  do  with  the 
native  and  migrated  tribes  who 
had  occupied  the  country  ffom 
earliest  times.  But  no  system- 
atic account  of  the  Indian  trou- 
bles of  this  period  has  ever  been 
attempted;  and  indeed  the  ma- 
teriails  for  such  a  narrative  are 
yet  to  be  searched  out  and  trans- 
lated from  the  documents  and 
archives  of  that  time.  Enough, 
however,  is  known  to  war- 
rant the  assertion  that  the 
bold  Apaehes  and  Comanches 
in  their  perennial  raids  and  depredations  were  the  dread 
and  scourge  of  the  western  frontier  udder  both  Spanish  and 
Mexican  rule. 

Being  in  fact  the  rightful  owmeirs  of  the  countr>',  to 
which  a  native  tribe  gave  name*,  by  priority  of  occupa- 
tion at  lea,st,  these  brave  and  warlike  tribes  hekl  all  intrud- 
ers as  vassals  to  their  powerful  confederacy.       The  following 


*From  an  old  tradition  we  learn,  and  are  inclined  to  believe,  that  "Texas"  ia  an  In- 
dian name,  derived  from  the  word  "Tc.has,"  and  signified,  paradise;  and  applied  to  the 
country  in  the  gorgeous  beauty  of  its  virgin  existence,  was  certainly  an  appropriate  name. 


16  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

statement  by  historian  Keunedy  •will  serve  to  illustrate  thie 
conditions  in  tbat  section  during  the  tinue  referred  to: 

"In  the  destruction  of  the  Missions,  the  Comanohes 
were  the  principal  agemts.  Encouraged  by  the  passive  suib- 
mission  of  the  Mexicans  of  mised  blood,  they  carried  their 
ijQSolence  so  far  as  to  ride  into  Bexar,  and  alight  in  the 
public  square,  leaving  their  horses  to  be  caught  and 
pastured  by  the  obsequious  soldiers  of  the  garrison,  on  pain 
of  chastisement.  To  raise  a  contribution,  they  would  en- 
ter the  town  with  a  drove  of  Mexican  horses,  stolen  by 
themselves,  amd  under  pretense  of  havinig  rescued'  the  cabal- 
lado  from  hostile  Indians,  wculi  exact  a  reward  for  their 
honesty !  They  openly  carried  off  herds  of  cattle  ajid  horses 
from  the  settlememts  east  of  the  Rio  Grande,  sparing  the 
lives  of  the  herdsmen,  not  from  motives  of  humanity,  but 
because  they  deemed  it  impolitic  to  kill  those  who  were  so 
useful  in  raising  horses  and  mules  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Oomanehes." 

Thus  we  see  the  lordly  Comanches  were  more  than  a 
match  for  the  Spaniards  and  Mexicans,  and  after  more  than 
a  century  of  untiring  effctrt  to  conciliate  and  christiamaze 
these  Indiams,  and  to  people  the  territory  of  Texas,  Mexi- 
oo  *  was  willing  to  give  up  in  despair.  But  a  new  era 
dawned  in  the  history  of  Texas,  liencefcrward  the  red  men 
must  deal  with  a  moi-e  formidable  intrudea* — that  invincible 
vanguard  of  western  civilization — the  American  pioneer. 


*"The  leading  object  of  the  Mexican  Government  in  allowing  the  colonization  of  Texas," 
Bays  Newell,  "was  undoubtedly  the  protection  of  her  frontiers  from  the  hostile  invasion  of 
the  Indians.  The  Comanches  and  other  tribes  had  waged  a  constant  and  ruinous  warfare 
against  tha  Spanish  settlements  at  Bexar  and  Goliad,  on  the  western  limits  of  Texas  and 
ext/jndod  their  ravages  also  beyond  the  Rio  Grande.  Mexico,  even  under  the  govem- 
ment  of  old  Spain,  had  been  unable  to  subdue  or  restrain  them,  and  she  would  have  had 
to  abandon  Texas  altogether,  if  not  other  parts  of  her  territory,  had  she  not  found  a  peo- 
ple, willing:,  for  the  sake  of  a  small  portion  of  her  soil,  to  go  in  and  subdue  them."  (Histo- 
ry of  the  Texas  revolution,  pages  14-15)— "And  yet,"  adds  Yoakum,  "the  colonists  have  been 
charged  with  ingratitude.  Wherein?  They  were  invited  to  a  desert.  They  came,  and  fonnd 
It  Inhabited  by  Indians  and  those  of  such  audacity,  that  even  in  San  Antonio,  where  the 
Mexicans  mostly  lived,  they  compelled  the  c-tizens  and  »>ldiers  in  the  place  to  hold  their 
horses  while  they  paraded  about  the  town;  these  savages  tha  colonists  had  to  subdue  at 
their  own  e.xpense  and  on  their  own  account.  Mexico  gave  them  nothing— tha  lands  only 
■were  valuable  because  they  made  them  so.  They  were  determined  to  keep  it  free,  not  only 
from  Indian  cruelty,  but  Mexican  tyranny."     (Te.xaa,  Vol.  1,  Pages  245-246.) 


'  O.    UORD,     MARY    A^^N•S    A    WIDOW' 


^■- 


"^. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  17 

FIRST  FIGHT. 

The  first  conflict  between  Anglo-Americans  and  Texas 
Indians  o-ccuired  on  Galveston  Island  late  in  the  fall  of  1819, 
antedating  more  t^han  a  year  the  arrival  of  IMosies  Aus'tin  at 
San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  seeking  pennission  to  establish  a 
colomy  in  the  province  of  Texas. 

At  that  time  the  patriotic  but  unfortunate  General 
James  Long,  venturing  a  secooid  expedition  into  Texas,  was 
fortified  with  fifty-odd  of  his  follorvvers  at  Bolivar  Point, 
opposite  the  east  end  of  Galveston  Island.  A  French  sloop, 
freighted  with  Mexican  supplies,  wines,  etc.,  and  bound  for 
Cassano,  stranded  near  the  present  city  of  Galveston.  The 
Carancihua  Indians,  to  the  number  of  200  warriors,  were  en- 
camped in  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  at  once  attacked  and 
butchered  all  on  board  the  luckless  craft,  destroying  the 
cargo,  and  indulging  in  a  drunken  caromsal  and  war  damce. 

Long  determined  to  avenge  this  outrage,  and  after  night- 
fall, with  tliirty  men,  crossed  over  in  small  boats  to  the  is- 
land; and  while  the  orgies  were  at  their  height,  ma-de  a  vig- 
orous attack  upon  the  unsuspecting  and  jubilant  savages. 
Quickly  rallying  from  their  surprise  and  confusion,  the 
Indians  secured  their  weapons,  and  yellimg  furiously,  met 
their  assailants  with  determined  courage.  Superior  in  num- 
bers, they  were  a  full  match  for  th'e  whites.  A  desperate 
hand  to  hand  fight  of  doubtful  issue,  now  ensued;  but 
Long  effected  a  timely  retreat  to  his  boats,  leaving  thirty 
twv  Indians  killed,  and  many  wound'ed;  three  of  his  own 
meai  were  killed  and  two  (George  Early  and  another)  bad- 
ly, besides  several  slightly,  w^ounded.  Two  Indian  boys  w^ere 
taken  prisoners  and  retaimed  by  the  whites,  one  being  ac- 
cidentally killed  some  time  afterwards. 

♦  Prior  to  this  engagement,  in  1818,  while  Galveston  Island  was  occupied  by  Jean  La- 
Fitte,  the  celebrated  pirate  chief,  some  of  his  men  kidnapped  a  youngr  Caranchua  squaw 
Through  revenge.the  Indians  crossed  over  to  the  island  and  discovering  a  party  of  the  pirates 
out  hunting,  ambushed  and  killed  four  of  them;  whereupon  LaFitte,  with  200  men  and  two 
small  pieces  of  artillery  attacked  some  SCO  of  the  tribe  then  encamped  at  a  place  tince  locally 
known  as  the"Three  Trees,"  and  after  a  desperate  fight,  in  which  some  thirty  warriors  were 
slain  and  a  much  larger  number  wounded,  forced  them  to  disperse  to  the  mainland.  None 
of  LaFitte's  men  were  killed,  but  a  number  were  badly  wounded  with  arrows. 


18  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

In  1821,  after  LaFitt-e  >vas  forced  to  abandon  his  "lit- 
tle kingdom."  by  the  United  States  naval  authorities,  a  Dr. 
Parn^ll,  with  a  partyi  of  about  twenty  men,  visited  the  is- 
land to  search  for  supposed  buried  treasures.  Encountering- 
about  100  Caranchuas  at  their  favorite  camp,  the  "Three 
Trees,"  the  Americaans  again  attacked  and  defeated  the  In- 
dians, who  left  the  island,  forever,  it  is  said,  carrying  off  sev- 
eral dead  and  wounded,  and  leaving  one  of  their  chiMreoi 
prisoner.  The  only  casualty  to  the  whites  was  the  slight 
wounding  of  Dr.  Parnell — an  arrow  (pinming  his  cap  to  the 
skin  of  his  head,  which  he  failed  to  notice  till  after  th* 
fight. 

"It  was  tiliese  attacks,"  suggestshistorian  Yoakum,  "that 
made  the  Caranchuas  so  hostile  to  Austifli's  colonists  in  af- 
ter years." 


AUSTIN'S  INFANT  COLONY. 

A  new  era  had  dawned  in  the  history  of  Texas.  The- 
fair  land;  was  not  destin>ed  to  remain  aon  unsettled  and  sav- 
age infested  land — civilizati  on  was  rapidly  advancing  to 
tile  Southwest,  the  American  pioneer  was  coming  as  the 
courier  amd  advance  guard.  Austin  and  his  first  colo- 
nists had  boldly  entered  the  wilderness,  and  were  determined 
to  maintain  a  foothold,  though  they  did  so  under  difficulties, 
Eund  suffering  great  privations.  The  first  settlers  arrived  on 
the  Brazos  River  during  the  last  days  of  December,  1821, 
and  the  dawn  of  New  Year's  day,  1822,  marks  the  date  of 
tihe   first  permanent   Anglo-American  settlement  in  Texas. 

Austin's  colony  sooai  attracted  the  attention  of  home- 
seekers  throughout  the  whole  Southwest,  and  other  settlers 
continued  to  arrive  overland  and  by  water.  In  June,  1822, 
the  schooner,  "Only  Son,"  with  upward  of  ninety  emi- 
grants (among  them  Horatio  Chrisman,  who  became  the 
noted  surveyor  amd  Indian  fighter  of  Austin's  Colony)  and 
:^-upplies  for  the  new  colony,  anchored  in  ]\Iatagorda  Bay. 
A  few  days  later  another  vessel,  from  New  Orleans,,  enter- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  19 

ed  the  mouth  of  the  Colorado.  Among  the  passengers  aboard 
the  vessel,  from  New  Orleans,  was  Samuel  M.  Williams,  af- 
terwards the  famous  secretary  o^"  Austin's  Colony.  The  pas- 
semgers  from  both  vess^els  were  landed  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  Colorado,  at  a  point  three  miles  above  its  mouth,  where 
they  went  into  camp  and  erected  temporary  storage  for 
their  goods.  Before  leaving  for  the  interior,  a  treaty  of 
frieaidship  was  formed  with  the  Indians,  and  four  young 
men  were  left  to  guard  tiieir  property,  while  six  of  their 
number,  ineluding  Helm  and  Clare,  were  dispatched  to  La 
Bahia  for  means  of  trani'sportation.  On  returning  with 
Mexican  carts,  they  found  the  camp  had  been  attacked, 
guards  murdered,  and  the  supplies  all  destroyed  or  carried 
away  by  the  faitMess  'and  fiendish  savages.  This  was  a  most 
serious  loss  to  tlie  emigrants,  and  caused  them  much  suffer- 
ing for  lack  of  provisions,  and  other  necessities. 

The  sad  news  reaching  the  settlement,  a  party  of  colo- 
nists were  soon  collected,  armed,  and  in  pursuit.  Locating 
the  f-amp  of  the  enemy,  the  settlers  made  a  surprise  attack,  re- 
covering a  remnant  of  their  supplies,  and  routin.g  line  In- 
dians with  some  loss. 

Thus  hostilities  commenced,  and,  with  brief  intervals, 
was  carried  on  for  years,  resulting  in  the  loss  of  many  valua- 
ble lives  and  the  final  extermination  of  this  once  powerful 
and  formidable  coast  tribe.  With  savage  stealth,  the  Indians 
often  lay  in  ambush  till  the  men  would  leave  their  cabins, 
when,  without  wanning,  they  would  rush  upon  the  unpro- 
tected and  helpless  women  and  children,  who  pleaded  for 
mercy  in  vain.  On  one  occassion,  only  one  child  out  of 
a  large  family,  was  found  alive,  but  it  was  mortallj^  wound- 
ed by  an  ugly  arrow.  '-*  The  white.s  ma^^  not  have  beeai'  so 
wantonly  cruel  and  bloodthirsty;  they  were  equally  stub- 
born aind  determined.  The  conflict  was  inevitable,  irresis- 
tible— one  of  expulsion  and  extermination.  Scores  of  trage- 
dies were  enacted  between  the  emigrants  in  Austin's  Colony 
a-nd  the  Aborigines  during  the  first  years  of  its  feeble  exist- 

»Mrs.  Helm's  "Scrap  of  Early  Texas  History,"  Page  36. 


20  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

f;nce — the  particulars  of  which,  alas!  were 'never  recorde'd. 
Such  reliable  notes  as  we  have  been  able  to  gather,  mostly 
from  the  "Kuykendall  Reminiscences,"  will  be  given  in  the 
order  of  their  occurrence. 


SKULL   CREEK  ENCOUNTERS. 

Diuirg  the  sprirg  of  .1823  a  severe  drouth  prevailed, 
and  but  a  scant  crop  of  corn  was  maile  that  season  in  the 
colony.  In  the  summer  three  young  men  were  ascending 
the  Colorado  River  with  a  canoe  load  of  corn,  which  they 
had  raised  on  the  cane  lands  below  the  settlements.*  Near 
the  mouth  of  Skull  Creek,  a  few  miles  from  th^e  preseait 
toAvn  of  Columbus,  in  Colorado  county,  they  were  waylaid 
and  fired  upon  by  the  Indians,  Loy  and  Alley  being  killed. 
John  C.  Clark,  however,  with  :>even  severe  wounds,  swam 
to  the  opposite  shore,  amd,  by  secreting  himself  in  a  dense 
thicket,  escaped,  and  recovered — to  live  many  years  and  ac- 
cumulate immense  wealth.     He  died  in  1861. 

Later,  the  same  day,  and  near  the  same  place,  Robert 
Brotherton,  a  young  man  reoontiy  from  St.  Louis  county, 
Missouri,  unexpectedly  rode  among  the  same  party  of  In- 
dians, thinking  they  were  friendly  Tonkawas.  Losing  his 
gun  in  the  struggle  to  free  himself,  he  put  spurs  to  his 
horse  and  escaped  with  a    painful  arrow  wound  in  the  back. 

Reaching  the  settlement,  Brotherton  gave  the  alarm. 
"When  this  news  was  received,"  says  Kuykendall,  "about 
a  dozen  of  the  settlers  led  by  my  uncle,  Robert  Kuykendall, 
^'Vent  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians.  The  Tonkawas  were  at 
that  time  camped  near  his  house,  and  the  settlers  thought  it 
prudent  to  take  their  chief  (Carita)  with  them  to  insure 
the  good  behavior  of  his  people  during  the  absence  of  the 
party,  whose  families  would  be  unprotected  until  their  re- 
turn. 

Upon     arriving  near  the  mouth  of  Skull  Creek,  the  par- 

♦  The  manner  in  which  the  land  was  prepared  was  simple.  The  cane  was  burned  off 
and  holes  made  in  the  ground  with  handspikes,  where  the  corn  was  planted.  The  land  being: 
very  rich,  a  good  yield  was  obtained  in  this  manner.     "Dawees  Letter  from  Te.xaa."  Page  39. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  21 

ty  halted  in.  order  to  spy  out  the  Indians,  and  some  time  af- 
ter dark,  they  heard  them  in  a  Ihjcktt  pounding  briar 
root.  Locating  th€  enemy;,  the  settlers  dismounted,  secur- 
ed their  horses,  and  awaited  the  coming  day."  By  the  morn- 
ing twilight  they  were  enabled  to  find  a  small  path  which 
led  jmto  the  thicket  and  to  the  camp  of  the  Indians,  "and  as 
gilently  as  possible,"  says  one  of  the  party," we  crawled  in- 
to a  thicket  about  ten  steps  behimd  the  camp.  Placing  our- 
selves about  four  or  five  steps  'apaa-t,  in  a  soii:  of  semi-circle, 
and  completely  cutting  off  their  retreat  from  the  swamps." 
As  the  first  Indian  ai-ose,  the  signal  for  ac-tion  was 
givien.  The  surprise  was  eojn.plete.  The  S'ettlei'S  rushed 
on  the  camp  and  delivered  a  deadly  fire.  Nine  or 
ten  warriors  were  killed  on  the  spot;  ten  more  were  slain 
in  their  wild  attempt  to  retreat;  two  escaped  badly  wouaid- 
ed.  The  encampment  was  destroyed,  and  the  settles  re- 
t^mied  home  without  further  incid-ent.  This  was  a  severe 
blow  to  the  Caramchuas,  and  it  caused  them  to  leave  the 
settlement  for  a  time  and  to  use  more  stealth  an^  pl^eeau- 
tion  in  their  depredations. 

During  the  fall  and  winter  of  1823-24  Austin's  colony 
was  in  a  very  feeble  condition.  The  empresario  Austin,  r^- 
counting  the  trials  and  privations  of  his  colonists  at  this 
early  period,  says,  "They  were  totally  destitute  of  bread 
aaid  salt ;  coffee,  sugai',  etc.,  were  remembered  and  hoped  for 
at  some  future  day.  There  was  no  other  dependence  for 
subsistence  but  the  wild  game,  such  as  buffalo,  bear,  deer, 
turkeys  and  wild  horses,  (mustangs).  The  Indians  rendered 
it  quite  dangerous  ranging  the  country  for  buffalo ;  bear 
were  very  ^Door  and  scarce,  owing  to  failure  in  mast,  and 
poor  venison,  it  is  well  known,  is  the  least  nutriticus  tif  all 
the  meat  kind.  The  mustang  horses,  he  v.  ever,  M-ere  fat 
and  very  abundant,  and  it  is  estimated  that  at  least  one 
hundred  of  these  were  eaten  the  two  first  years. 

"The  Caranchua  Indians  Avere  very  hostile  on  the 
coast;  the  "Wacos  and  Tehuaeanies  vrere  equally  so  in  the 
interior,  and  committed  constant  depredations.  Parties  of 
Tonkawas,   Lipans,    Beedies    and    others    were    intermingled 


22  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

with  the  settlers;  they  were  beggarly  and  insolent,  and  were 
only  restrained  th«  first  two  years  by  presents,  forbearance 
and  policy;  there  was  not  force  enough  to  awe  them.  One 
imprudent  step  with  these  Indians  would  have  destroyed 
the  settlement,  and  the  setitlefrs  deserve  as  much  for  their 
forbearance  diirinig  the  years  1822  and  1823,  as  for  their  for- 
titude." 

"In  1824,  the  strength  of  the  settlement  justified  a  change 
of  policy,  and  a  party  of  'Tonkawfs  were  tried  and  whipped 
in  the  presence  of  their  chiefs  for  horse  stealing." 

Thus  the  empresario  Austin  himself  "has  given  us  a 
brief,  but  vivid  picture  of  what  moist  have  heen  the  difficul- 
ties, privations  and  daggers  which  had  to  be  borne  and 
overcome  during  the  first  years  of  his  colony.  Austin  him- 
self was  absent  from  his  colooy  for  several  months,  being 
very  unexpectedly  called  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  to  secure 
ratification  of  his  colonization  contract  by  the  new,  revolu- 
tionary formed,  government  of  Iturbide.  The  Indians  were 
more  or  less  troublesome  and  threatening;  provisions  were 
scarce,  "store  bought,"  clothing  was  an  almost  unknown 
luxury,  and  many  privations,  as  well  as  real  sufferings,  were 
experienced.  To  give  the  readier  a  better  knowledge  of  th'e 
deplorable  conditions  and  gloomy  prospects  existing  in  the 
infant  colony  at  that  period,  we  extract  briefly  from  letters 
aind  narratives  of  some  of  the  early  settlers  :- 

Colorado    River,  Coahuila,  and  Texas. 
December  1,  1823. 

Dear  Friend :  Since  I  last  wrote,  our  sufferings  have 
been  very  great  for  want  of  provisions.  On  accouint  of  dry 
weather  our  crops  W'cre  very  poor,  and  are  now  entirely 
spent.  The  game  has  left  this  section  of  th-e  country,  and 
we  are  now  very  much  po-esised  for  food.  There  have  been 
a  great  many  lU'CW  settlers  come  on  this  fall,  and  those  who 
have  not  been  accustomed  to  hunting  in  the  woods  forr  sup- 
port, are  obliged  to  suffer.  "Were  it  not  for  a  few  boys  who 
have  no  families,  their  wives  and.  children  would  suffer 
mueh  more  than  they  now  do;  in  fact,  I  fear  some  of  them 
Vf0"»lid  starve.    Those  of  us  who  have  ino  familias  of  our  own 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  23 

reside  with  some  of  the  families  of  the  settlement.  We  re- 
main here,  notwithstanding  the  scarcity  of  provisions,  tx>  as- 
sist in  protecting  the  settlement.  We  are  obliged  to  go 
out  iin  the  morning  ,  a  party  of  us,  to  hunt  food,  leaving  a 
I>art  of  .the  metn  at  .home  to  guard  the  settlement  from  In- 
dians, who  are  very  hostile  to  us.  Indeed,  we  dare  not  go 
•out  and  hunt  except  in  companies,  as  we  are  obliged  to 
keep  en  a  lookout,  lest  the  savages  fall  upon  us;  and  one 
cannot  hunt  aiad  watch  too.  Game  is  now  so  scarce  that  we 
often  hunt  all  day  for  a  dee-  cr  a  turkey,  and  reitum  at 
night  empty  handed.  It  would  make  your  heart  sick  to 
see  tlhe  poor  little  half  naked  childre'n,  who  have  nothing  to 
eat  during  the  da^',  watch  for  the  return  of  the  hunters  at 
night.  As  soon  as  they  catch  the  first  glimpse  of  us  they  ea- 
gerly run  to  meet  us,  and  learn  if  we  have  been  successful  in 
our  hunt.  If  the  hunters  return  with  a  deer  or  turkey,  the 
children  are  almost  wild  with  delight;  while  on  the  other 
hand,  they  suddenly  stop  in  their  course,  their  counte- 
nances fall,  the  deep,  bitter  tears  well  up  in  their  eyes 
and   roll   down  their  pale  cheeks. 

'Tis  truly  heart-rending  to  see  us  re1:urn  home  after 
a  hard  days  bunt  without  anv  game,  knowing,  aa  we  do, 
that  the  women  and  children  are  entirely  without  food, 
and  c^aai  have  nothing  until  we  find  it  in  our  hunt.  No  one 
can'  know  our  sufferings,  or  even  imagine  our  feelings,  un- 
less they  have  been  in  similar  situations.  And  to  render 
our  situation  the  more  dreadful,  our  sufferings  the  more 
acute,  we  are  often  obliged  to  get  the  women  of  the  differ- 
ent settlements  together,  and  make  a  kind  of  fort  to  protect 
them  from  the  merciless  savages.  It  is  surprising  to  see 
how  bravely  the  delicate  females  bear  up  under  their  suffer- 
ings, without  a  murmur  or  complaint.  'Tis  only  by  their 
looks  they  show  their  feelings.  When  we  seem  the  least 
discourage'd,  they  cheer  us  with  kind  words  and  looks,  and 
strive  to  appear  cheerful  and  happy.  They  do  more  when 
we  are  worried  out  with  toil  and  fatigue — they  take  our 
guns  in  their  hands  and  aJssist  us  in  standing  guard. 

"Our  prospects  for  the  winter  look  very  gloomy.    If  the 


24^  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Indians  attack  us,  1  scarcely  know  what  we  shall  do ;  but  I 
hope  for  tfi-e  best,  and  trust  that  we  shall  be  provided  for 
in  some  way.  Were  it  not  for  the  Tonkawa  Indians,  a 
small  tribe  who  are  friendly  ta  us  and;  supply  us  with  dress- 
ed deerskins,  we  should  be  almost  entirely  destitute  of  cloth- 
ing. Onee  in  a  great  while  we  are  able  to  obtai-n  a  small 
piece  of  unbleached  domestic,  or  a  bit  of  calico,  at  the  ex- 
oa'bit^mt  price  -of  seventy-five  cents  a  yard,  from  some  one 
passing  throug'b  the  country ;  but  this  is  very  seldom.  The 
common  dress  of  men  and  childi-en  is  made  of  buckskin,  and 
even  the  Women  are  often  forced  to  wear  the  same, 

YouT  affectionate  friend,  W.  B.  Dewees." 

Captain  Jesse  Burnham  in  his  "Reminiscences,"  after 
telling  of  'hi-s  enfeebled  condition  from  siefcness,  and  that 
*'we  got  out  of  brea;d"  and  h^d  no  food  £or  two  days, 
Bays: 

"At  last  I  heard  one  of  my  children  say,  *I  am  so  hun- 
gi'y.'  I  was  too  feeble  to  hunt,  but  I  got  up  and  began  to 
fix  my  gun  slowly.  I  didn't  feel  as  tfhough  I  could  walk, 
but  I  started  on  my  first  hunt.  I  had  not  gone  far  when 
I  saw  two  deer,  a  fawn  and  its  motlier.  I  s-hot  the  fawn 
first,  knowiing  the  doe  would  not  run  far,  them  I  fAot  and 
killed  her.  '0  ho,'  I  said,  'two  deer  in  one  day,  and  my 
first  hunt!'  I  took  tlie  fawn  to  camp  to  my  hungry  chil- 
dren and  took  William,  my  oldest  boy,  and  a  horse  after 
the  doe.  I\Iy  wife  had  dressed  a  skin  and  made  William  a 
shirt,  but  it  lacked  one  sleeve,  'So  she  dressed  the  fawn  skin 
that  day  and  made  the  other  sleeve." 

"We  were  still  out  of  bread,  and  it  had  been  nine 
mouths  since  we  had  seen  any.  A  man  fromi  lower  down  the 
country  came  up  and  told  me  he  had  corn  that  he  had  plant- 
ed with  a  stick — there  were  no  plow"s  or  hoes  in  the  colony. 
I  gave  ihim  a  horse  for  twenty  bushels  and  went  twenty-six 
miles  after  it  with  two  horses,  and  broug^ht  eight  bushels 
back.  I  walked  and  led  my  horse.  I  had  prepared  a  mor- 
tar* before  I  left  ihome  to  beat  it  in,  and  a  sieve  made  of 

A- Many  of  the  first  emigrants  to  Austin's  Colony  had  not  even  a  hacd  mill,  and  for  a 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  25 

d€er  skin  stretched  over  a  hoop  and  with  holes  punclred  in 
it.  We  would  have  to  be  very  saving,  of  course,  and.  were 
allowed  only  one  pi^ece  of  bread  around. 

"About  this  time  my  oldest  daughter's  dress  wore  out 
before  we  could  get  any  cotton  to  spin,  and  she  wore  a 
dress  of  dressed'  buckskin.  I  'had  pants  and  a  hunting 
Bhirt  made  of  deerskin.  My  wife  colored  the  skin  browa 
and  fringed  the  hunting  ehirt,  and  it  was  considered  the 
nicest  suit  in  the  colony." 

Horatio  Chrisman,  the  famous  surveyor  and  early  In- 
dian fighter  of  Austin's  colony,  says:  "All  tbese  emi- 
grants suffered  for  want  of  provisions.  We  haid  about 
eiglit  acres  of  conn  which  if  not  worked!  immediately,  was 
eert^in  to  be  lost.  I  could  not  stop  tlhe  plow  to  hunt.  I 
took  no  sustenance  save  a  few  stinteki  drinks  of  buttermilk 
until  after  I  ftnisbed  plowing  over  Uhe  eight  acres.  My 
plow  animal  was  an  old,  slow,  blind  mule."  A  few  weeks 
afterward,  Mr.  Chrisman  learnted  that  James  Whitesidea — 
whose  residence  was  on  the  east  side  of  the  Brazos — had 
gone  to  the  United  States  on  business,  and  that  his  family, 
consisting  of  his  wif-e  and  two  little  boys,  had  Kttle  or 
nothing  to  eat  but  lettuce.  Sending  out  his  excellent  hunt- 
er, Martin  Vai*ner,  he  secured  a  very  large  buck,  which  h-e 
threw  across  his  horse  and  carried  to  Mrs.  Whitesides,  a  dis- 
tance of  twenty  miles.  "Aunt  Betsey,"  says  Chrisman, 
"never  forgot  this  favor." 

The  lot  of  these  first  piioneea's  was  indeed)  a  haird'  and 
rugged  one,  but  in  common,  and  they  were  ever  ready  to 
assist  and  protect  each  other  at  their  own  discomfort,  and 
often  at  the  risk  of  their  lives. 

During  the  summer  Capt.  Chrisman  was  without  a  shirt, 
and  wore  a  buckskin  hunting  shirt  instead.  Toward  au- 
tumn he  learned,  that  Col.  Jared  Groce  had  siome  goods. 
He  therefore  visited  the  colonel  t-o  replenish  his  wardrobe. 

long  time  their  only  means  of  manufacturing  meal  was  by  pounding  the  corn  with  a  wooden 
pestle  in  a  motar  made  in  a  log  or  stump.  The  first  saw  and  grist  mill  propelled  by  water, 
was  erected  on  Mill  Creek,  by  the  Cummings  family.  It  went  into  operation  in  the  year 
1826.  One  or  two  horse  mills  had  been  erected  a  short  time  before.  — Kuykendall's  Re- 
ininiBceRcee. 


26  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

H^  boug'ht  a  few  yards  of  coarse  brown  "Holland,"  from 
which,  he  had  a  Mrs.  Byrd  to  make  him  two  shirts — "the 
best  I  ever  wore,  as  they  lasted  three  years."  But  we  are 
difrressins. 


HORSE  THIEVES. 

Another  siort  of  annoyance  to  the  struggling  colonists, 
and  one  that  for  a  while  threatened  to  be  m^ore  serious  than 
Indian  troubles,  was  a  clan  of  Mexican  and)  American  rob- 
bers and  horse  thieves  tliat  infested  the  colony  about  this 
timie — ^some  of  them  erstwhile  denizens  of  the  "Neutral 
Grounds,"  where  they  held  undisputed  sway  and  found  a 
safe  retreat.  Others,  "men  Who  had  fled  from  justice  in 
the  United  States,  and  eome  to  the  colony  with  the  hope  of 
committing  their  depredatious  with  greater  impunity." — 
Yoakrum's  Texas,  Vol.  1,  page  228. 

"During  the  same  summer,"  (1823),  says  Kuykendall 
in  big  Reminiscences,  "A  Frenchman  and  two  Mexicans,  all 
residents  of  Louisiana,  returning  from  the  Rio  Grande  with 
a  small  cavalcade,  passed  through  our  neighboi^hood  and 
crossed  the  Brazos  at  the  La  Bahia  road.  As  they  passed 
by  the  residence  of  Martin  Varuer,  (near  the  present  town 
of  Independence),  they  stole  his  most  valuable  horse.  Our 
Alcalde,  Joseph  H.  Bell,  ordered  me  to  raise  a  few  men 
and  pursue  the  thie^'^es.  The  min  who  went  with  me  were 
Martin  Varner,  Samuel  Kenned}^  Jame«  Nelson,  OliA-^er 
Jone«  and  George  Robinson.  About  midnight  of  the  day  we 
stai-ted,  we  arrived  at  Dhe  creek  much  swollen  by  a  recent 
rain.  Dark  as  it  was,  we  swam  this  stream,  and  about  an 
hour  before  day,  on  the  waters  of  the  Trinity,  we  came  up- 
on the  camp;  and  at  daylight  captured  the  theives,  and  re- 
covered Varner 's  and  ten  or  eleven  other  horses.  The  cul- 
prits were  tiried  by  the  local  authorties  and  sentenced  to 
receive  thirty-nine  laches,  which  sentence  was  duly  execut- 
ed; 'after  which  the  Frenchman  was  released,  it  appearing 
that  he  was  only  accessory  to  the  theft.  "The  principal  was 
now  carried  before  Alcalde  BeU      for    further    proceedings; 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  27 

again  whipped,  and  released  on  the  east  side  of  the  Braaos, 
with  orders  to  depart  the  Colony,"* 

Cok)nel  Austin,  as  civil  and  military  commandant,  now 
adopted  more  drastic  measures,  determined  to  rid  his  colony 
of  the  scourge.  An  opportunity  soon  offered  to  carry  out 
his  plan.  "A  still  greater  outrage"  continues  Kuykendall, 
"was  perpetrated  this  summer  by  another  partj"  of  Mexi- 
cans from  the  border  of  Louisiana.  Tihey  were  enroute  to 
the  Rio  Grande,  and  finding  a  small  party  of  Mexicans  on 
Skull  Greek,  with  a  cavalcade  which  they  were  driving  east, 
the  Louisianans  camped  with  them.  The  e-nsuing  nig-lit  they 
fell  upon  their  Rio  Grande  brethre^,  and  after  murdering 
two  or  three  and  dispersing  the  rest,  took  possession  of  the 
cavaillada.  Carrastco,  the  owtner  of  the  horses,  though  wound- 
ed, escaped  to  the  settlement  on  the  Colorado;  whereupon 
unck  Robert  Kuykendall  with  a  few  men,  started  in  pursuit 
of  the  theiv^.  It  was  sk)on  discovered  they  had  separated 
into  two  parties  (havimg  divided  the  liorses),  one  of  whicii 
had  crossed  the  Colorado  a  short  distance  below  the  La 
Bahia  road,  and  the  other  manv  miles  above  it.  The  latter 
party,  after  crossing  the  river,  fell  into  and  followed  the  San 
Antonio  road  and  escaped  to  Louisiana,  but  the  former  was 
pursued  and  overtaken  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Brazos,  at 
the  Coos'hatte  crossing.  Two  of  them  w^re  killed  and  their 
heads  stuck  on  poles  at  the  roadside.  The  horses  were  also 
taken  and  restored  to  their  owner.  After  this  example, 
the  'border  ruffians'  ceased  their  depredations  within  the 
bounds  of  Austin's  Colony." 

However,  the  Tonkawas,  ever  professing  friendship  for 
the  whites,  could  not  restrain  their  propensity  for  stealing, 
and  committed     numeirous  petty  depredations. 

"Toward  the  latter  part  of  this  summer,"  says  Kuyken- 
dall, "a  party  of  Tonkawas  stole  a  horse  from  my 
father  and  several  from  Mr.  Wheat.  Father,  Thomas  Boat- 
Avright,  my  brother  Barzillai  and  myself,  pursued  the  thieves. 

»  'At  first"  says  Yoaknm,  "they  were  pursued,  the  property  reclaimed,  and  the  rob- 
bers whipped  and  turned  loose,  but  this  only  seemed  to  exasperate  and  cause  them  to  add 
murdar  to  robbery,  in  order  to  prevent  detsction." 


28  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

At  the  infant  town  of  San  Filipe,  then  comtaining  but  two 
or  thTee  log  cabins,  we  wel^e  jodned  by  Austin  and  a  few 
otters,  wiio  went  with  us  to  Fort  Bemd,  where  we  were  join- 
ed hy  a  few  more  men,  making  our  force  thirty  strong.  On 
approaching  the  Tonkawa  camp,  Carita,  the  chief,  met  the 
party,  professing  regrets  that  fi-ve  of  his  youmg  men  had 
stolen  the  horses;  thiat  the  animals  would  be  restored  and 
the  thieves  punished.  Delivering  tflie  hoi-i^es,  the  old  chief 
pointed  out  the  five  men  who  had  committed  the  theft,  each 
of  whom  was  sentenced  to  receive  fifty  lashes,  and  have  on« 
half  of  his  head  sihaved.  The  s-entence  Avas  fully  carried 
out  on  four,  one  being  excused  for  sickness,  Chief  Carita. 
icnflicting  one  half,  and  Capt.  Kuykendall  the  other  half  of 
the  lashes." 

At  this  time  there  were  two  divisions  of  tihis  tribe;  the 
other  encampment  being  on  the  Colorado  under  Chief  Sandia. 
The  comhined  number  of  warriore  "did  not  mucQi  exceed 
one  hundred' — ^it  certainly  did  not  reach  one  hundred  and  fif- 
ty."* 

With  thie  iieturn  of  bid  ring,  favorable  season-s  and  a  fair 
yield  of  ci"ops,  cam^e  (new  life  and  renewed  hopes  for  tihje 
struggling  colonists.  "New  comers"  were  locating  at  dif- 
feivnt  points,  and  a  more  prosperous  and  peaceful  condition 
prevailed  in  the  Colony.  But  the  settlers  were  not  long  left 
undisturbed.  The  Caranehuas  socm  renewed  hostilities.  In 
Junie  of  this  year,  a  part}'  of  Caranehuas  halted  near  the 
camp  of  Capt.  Robert  Kuykendall,  on  Peach  Creek,  a  few 
miles  below  Eagle  Lake,  killing  some  of  his  stock  amd  shoot- 
ing at  his  little  ten  year  old  son,  whto  escaped  and  rode  for 
assiistance.  Kuykemdall,  with  his  wife  and  smaller  children 
secreted  tbemtselves  in  a  thicket.  Capt.  Ingram  amd  a  dozen 
neighbors  soon  came  to  their  relief.  The  settlers  follow,ed 
the  trail  of  thie  retreating  Indians,  which  wound  for  sever- 
al miles  through  a  dense  cane  ba*akie.  When  the  pursuers 
arrived  at  the  Colorado  River,  they  espied  thie  Indians  on 
the  opposite  bank,  where  they  were    drying    meat.      "Spux- 

)f  KuyUendalVs  Reminiecencee. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  29 

ring  their  horses  to  a  g-allop,  tbej-  plunged  into  th3  river  in 
the  face  of  the  ememy,  who  sainted  them  with  'a  swarm  of 
arrows,  and  fled  to  th«  adjacent  cane  brake.  In  the  camp 
Alexander  Jacksoai  stooped  to  pick  up  a  buffalo  robe,  wfh«n 
a  'cloth  yard'  arrow  was  driven  throug*!)!  ihis  elbow.  At 
the  moment,  a  companion,  John  V,  Clark,  saw  the  In- 
dian who  had  ^hot  Jackson,  in  the  eane  brake,  with  his  bow 
raisied  to  shoot  again.  Clark  quickly  aimed  and  fired,  th-e 
Indian  falling  dead,  the  rifle  ball  cutting  his  wrist  in  two, 
and  penetrating  his  breast.  The  Inidiams  being  secure  in 
th^ir  cane  brake  Tetreat,  the  settlers  deemed  it  prudent  to 
give  up  further  pursuit." 


THE  FAMOUS  CANOE  FIGHT. 

About  this  ti'm€  Capt.  White,  an  old  trader  who  lived 
at  La  Bahia,  aaid  owned  a  small  boat,  had  an  adventuTe 
with  the  Caranchuas.  Embarking  at  Port  Lavaca  his  vessel, 
loaded  with  salt  to  exchange  for  corn,  he  steered  up  the 
Colorado  to  what  is  called  "Old  Landing,"  two  miltes  from 
its  mouth,  w^ere  he  landed,  leaving  his  boat  in  charge  of 
two  or  three  ]Mexicans,  aaid  went  lup  to  the  setitlemjent  in 
search  of  corn.  A  party  of  Caranchuas  were  encamped 
nieaa*  the  landitng,  and  professing  friendsMp  for  White  and 
hisi  Mexican  companion,  requested  him  to  visit  them  on  'his 
return,  as  tbey  wisbed  to  trade  for  corn.  Goin)g  up  Peach 
Creek  to  the  Kincheloe  settlement,  White  found  corn  in  ex- 
cliange  for  his  salt — the  corn  to  be  delivered  to  his  boat,  and 
the  salt  received  there.  Meantime  the  settlers  were  inform- 
ed of  the  situation,  and  a  runner  sent  sixty  miles  above  for 
Capt.  Jesse  Bumam,  wlio  hastily  collected  a  company  of  twen- 
ty-five and  marched  on  the  Indians.  We  quote  Bumam 'sown 
accoumt:  "White  was  to  inform  the  Indians  of  his  return, 
by  making  a  camp  fire.  He  ga\^e  the  signal  just  at  day- 
lighit.  I  left  twelve  of  my  men  at  the  boat,  for  fear  the  In- 
diaius  might  come  from  a  different  direction,  while  I  took 
the  other  hialf  and  went  down  the  river,  to  thie  Indians' 
landing  place.    About  half  an  hour  by  sun,  the  Indiajis  came 


30  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

rowing  up  the  river,  very  slowly  and  cautiously,  as 
though  they  expected  danger.  The  river  banks  were  low, 
but  with  sufficient  brush  to  coJMjeal  us.  Just  as  they  were 
landing,  I  fired  on  them,  my  signiail  shot  killing  one  In- 
diiaai,  and  in  less  tban  five  minutes  we  had  killed  eight.  The 
other  two  swam  off  with  the  eanoe,  which  they  kept  between 
them  and  us,  but  finally  one  of  them,  raising  his  head  to 
guide  the  canoe,  received  a  mofftal  shot.  I  returned  home 
without  the  loss  of  a  man."* 


DISASTROUS  FIGHT  IN  THE  CANE  BRAKE. 

Through  favorable  reports  sent  out  by  Austin,  his 
colony  continued  to  increase  in  population — giving  a  sem- 
blajQce  of  strength  that  would  better  enable  him  to  cope  with 
the  Indians.  The  land  office  was  opened,  surveyors  appoint- 
ed, and  we  are  informed,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  titles 
were  issued  to  the  oraginal  "300"  settlers  during 
this  year.**  "While  the'  colonists  busied  themselv^  se- 
lecting locations,  surveying  lands,  and  making  improve- 
ments, tidings  came  that  a  small  party  of  emigrants, 
enroute  from  the  moutli  of  the  Brazos,  had  been  at- 
tacked and  murdered  by  the  exasperated  Caranchuas.  Col- 
onel Austim,  to  retaliate,  and  prevent  a  repetition  of  such 
outrages,  in  Septemiber,  commissioned  Capt.  Randal  Jones, 
with;  a  company  of  twenty  three  men,  to  proceed  down  the 
Brazos  in  canoes,  reconnoiter  the  coast  as  far  as  Matagorda 
Bay,  and,  if  found,  show  no  mercy  to  the  party  that  massa- 
cred the  emigrants,  as  well  as  any  other  hostiles.  Landing 
at  a  favorable  position,  scouts  were  sent  out  to  reconnoi- 
ter. We  quote  from  Jones'  Journal:  "Convinced  that  the 
Indians  were  secretly  preparing  for  ani  attack,  two  of  the 
scouts  were  dispatched  up  the  river  for  reinforcements.  At 
Bailey's  store,  on  the  Brazois,  they  were  joined  by  eight  or 

♦  Reminiscences  of  Capt.  Jesse  Bumam,  in  Texas  Historical  Quarterly— Vol.  5,  pages 
17  and  18. 

*  »247  was  the  exact  number  of  titles  issued  in  1824. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  31 

teia  colonists  already  collected  to  wajtch  the  maaaeiiveringa 
of  about  a  dozen  Indians  who  had  visited  that  place  for  am- 
munition. At  daybreak  the  following  mortninig,  an  attack 
was  made,  a  few  Indians  were  killed,  amd  their  discomfitted 
companions  routed." 

In  the  meantime,  directed  by  the  loud  wailing  for  their 
falleoi  comrades  at  Bailey's,  Capt.  Jooies  ascertained  that 
some  thirty  Indians  were  encamped  oai  the  west  bank  of  a 
small,  sluggis^h  tributary  of  the  San  Bernard— since  call- 
ed Jones   Creek. 

Approaching  under  cover  of  night,  within  sdxty  yards  of 
the  'coicampmient,  the  company  baited,  quicMy  prepared 
for  action,  and  "when  it  was  Idght  enougli  to  see  their 
sights"  made  a  furious  attack.  Altliough  greatly  surprised, 
the  Indians  quickly  hid  themselves  in  the  reeds  and  tall 
marsh  grass,  Where  they  fought  wifch  great  desperatioai  and 
advantage.  Exposed  to  the  deadly  balls  and  arrows  of  th'C 
Indiaais,  the  whites  finally  retreated,  with  a  loss  of  three  oS. 
theiT  number,  Spencer,  Bailey  and  Singer.  The  Indians,  too, 
suffered  severely,  their  diead  being  estimated  art;  fifteen.  A 
proportionate  number  w^re  wounded  om  either  side. 

John  Heniiiy  Brown  says,  "It  was  a  clear  orerpulse  o^f 
tbe  whites,  whose  leader,  C^pt.  Jones,  was  am  expeo-ien^ed 
soldier  of  approved  courage.  Such  a  resiult  was  lamentable 
at  that  period  in  the  colony's  existence." 

The  whites  returned  home,  and  the  Indians  retreated 
westward  across  the  San  Bernard.  Greatly  incens>ed,  and 
somewhat  emboldened,  the  Caranchuas  now^  became  more 
hostile  and  troublesome.  * 


AUSTIN  LEADS  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  CARANCHUAS. 

As  the  confines  of  Austin's  colony  were  extending  in 
every  direction,  many  outrages  were  perpetrated  on  the 
more  venturesome  and  exposed   settlers.     Col.    Austin,   now 


♦  During  this  year,  Capt.  Chrismar, -while  out  surveying  with  small  parties  of  "land 
locators,"  had  several  skirmishes  and  numerous  adventures  with  ahe  Caranchuas  on  the 
San  Bernard  River  and  Gulf  Prairie. 


32  '  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

deeming  hia  foroes  sufficiently  strong,  determined  to  chas- 
tis-e  and  expel  the  thieving  and  murderous  Caranchuas 
from  his  colony.  Accordingly,  in  July,  he  headed  an  expedi- 
tion of  forty  or  fifty  arm'ed  men  from  San  Felipe.  Cross-  • 
ing  ihe  Colorado  (near  Eagle  Lake,  and  proceeding  down 
the  west  side  of  the  river  to  ' '  Jennings  Camp ; ' '  thence  to 
the  Lava«a  below  the  mouth  of  the  Nabadad;  most  of  the 
route  being  througli  the  prairie  country.  Pioneers  were  de- 
tailed to  open  roads  through  the  dense  thickets  and  cane 
brakes,  bordering  streams  they  crossed.  But  the  Indians 
had  warning  of  this  expedition  and  fled  from  the  colony — 
west,  toward  the  San  Antonio  River. 

Returning  to  the  capital  for  fresh  supplies  and  rein- 
forcements, Austin  determined  to  pursue  and  deal  these 
Indians  a  telLimg  blow  Wihile  they  were  united  in  their  retreat. 

This  eecond  expedition,  of  swme  ninety  men,  thirty  of 
whom  were  negroes,  tiife  slaves  of  Col.  Jared  E.  Groce, 
monnted,  armed  and  commanded  by  him,  left  San  Felipe  in 
August;  passing  thle  Colorado  at  the  Atascocito  crossing, 
and  following  the  Atascocito  road  to  the  Guadalupe  River, 
near  tliie  present  town  of  Victoria;*  thence  marching  in 
the  direction  of  La  Baihia,  expecting  to  strike  the  Indiana 
west  of  the  San:  Antonio  River,  on  either  Espirita  Santo 
or  Aransas  Bays.  "But  on  the  IManahuilla  Creek,  la  few 
miles  east  of  that  town,"  says  John  Henry  Brown,  "iie 
was  met  by  the  priest.  Alcalde  and  citizens,  who  ap- 
peared as  mediators  for  the  Indians.  The  Caranchuas, 
afonetimie  nominally  belonging  to  iflie  Mission  of  La  Bahia 
as  converted  Indians,  now  seeing  danger  approaching,  pro- 
fessed penitence,  and  appealed  to  the  priest  and  Alcalde  Ho 
avert  their  threatened  destruction.  The  result  was  a  confer- 
ence and  quasi-treaty,  in  which  the  Indians  solemnly  pledged 
themselves  to  never  again  come  east  of  the  San  Antonio 
or  Guadalupe  Rivers.  The  colonists  thereupon  returned 
'home." 


»'At  that  time  there  was  not  a  single  habitation  on  the  Guadalupe  River  from  ita  head 
to  its  mouth'  — Kuykendall  Reminiscences. 


0»V 


•^: 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  33 

For  -a  time  these  Indians  remained  qoii^t,  the  good 
priest  lexierted  himself  in  their  behalf,  and  liopes  weire  en- 
tOTtaimied  that  he  would  succeed  in  bringing  them  under  the 
benignant  influence  of  Chrdstian  civilization.  But  "to  the 
manner  born"  the  Caranchuas  could  not  long  restrain  their 
murderous  and  thieving  propensities;  the  treaty  was  S'Oon 
biloken,  and  for  more  than  twenty  years  they  continued  to 
coimmit  m'any  petty,  and  some  serio<us  depredations.  * ' In  fact, ' ' 
says  Kuykendall,  "some  of  the  greatesit  atrocities  ever  com- 
mitted by  the&e  Indians  in  Austin's  Colony,  were  perpe- 
trated aft^r  this    treaty    was  made.* 

In  the  winter  of  this  year,  the  families  of  Flowers  and 
Cavaniaiugh  were  murdered  by  the  Caranchuas.  Capt.  Buck- 
ner,  with  a  company,  pursued  the  Indians  to  their  camp 
on  the  bay  about  three  miles  east  of  the  present  town 
of  Matagorda,  where  at  day  break  ihe  made  a  surprise  at- 
tack, killing  som.e  thirty,  and  completely  routing  them. 
TMs  was  the  'greateist  loss  th^se  Indians  ever  sustained  in  any 
ome  fight  witJh  the  colonists.  Sometimie  during  the  year 
1832,  Capt.  J'ohn  Ingram  led  a  party  of  'nineteen  men  in  an 
attack  on  an  encampment  of  Caranchuas  on  Live  Oak  Creek, 
within  the  present  limits  of  Matagorda  County.  The  party 
fired  on  the  Indians  at  the  dawn  of  day,  killing  four  or 
five  amd  dispiersing  the  remain  d«ir. 

"Near  the  mouth  of  tihe  Guadalupe,  in  1834,"  says  John 
H^nry  Brown,  "tliey  were  only  deteired  from  attacking  the 
party  of  Major  James  Kerr,  sur^^eying  lands  for  De  Leon's 
Colony,  by  a  ruse  practicied  upom  them  by  him;  and  during 
that  year  they  were  wlliipped  in  a  fight  near  Laguna  V.erde, 
or  Green  Lake,  now  in  Calhoun  County,  by  a  party  of  Mex- 
icatn  and  American  settlers  commanded  by  the  brave  Capt. 
Plaeido  Venibides."  "In  the  year  1834  or  1835,"  says  Kuy- 
kendall, "the  Tonkawas,  instigated  by  the  Mexicans  of  Vic- 
toria, treacherously  assassinated  fifteen  or  twenity  of  the 
Caranchuas.  The  Tonkawas  went  to  the  camp  of  the  Ca- 
ranchuas, taking  with  them  a     small  boy,  who  secretly    cut 

*In  the  year  1826,  Capt.  Aylett  C.  Buckner,  defeated  a  party  of  Caranchuas    below 
Elliott's  Crossing. 


34  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

the  how  strings  of  the  Caranchuas,  when  the  Tonkawas  fell 
upon  them  and  mnrd'erejd  all  but  two    oir  three." 

In  the  Spring  of  1836,  the  Csranchnas  still  counted 
twenty-five  or  thirty  warriors.  "Whien  the  army  of  invasion 
reachied  our  frontier,  they  joined  it,  and  fougiht  against  us 
at  the  Mission  of  Refugio  in  March,  1836.  The^^  had  pre- 
viously offered  to  fight  for  the  Amiericans,  but  their  offer 
was  either  rejected  or  rbciglected. 

About  1840  they  were  encamped  on  tilie  Guadalupe  Riv- 
■er,  below  Victoria,  near  the  junction  of  tbe  San  Antonio,  and 
on  account  of  some  depredations  committed  by  them,  were 
attacked  by  the  Mexican  and  Americali  settlers  of  that  vi- 
cinity, and  many  killed.  "They  fled  to  the  southwest,  along 
the  coast,"  says  Kenney,  "and  their  brief  history  hastens 
to  its  catasitrophe." 

In  1843  they  were  camped  about  fifty  miles  southwest  of 
Corpus  Christi,  whene  they  were  found  by  a  Mexican  rang- 
ing company  under  Capt.  Rafael  Aldrete,  who  had  known 
them  from  his  childhood  as  cannibal  savages.  He  at  once 
attacked  and  almost  annihilated  them,  vory  few  escaping. 
Their  last  notable,  hostile  act  was  the  murder  of  Capt.  Jodm 
Kemper  'at  his  home  on  the  G  uadalupe,  Victania  County,  in 
November,  1845.  Mrs.  Kemper,  with  her  two  little  children, 
and  ber  mother,  afber  the  Indians  had'  attempted  to  burn 
them  with  the  dwellimg  house,  escaped  in  the  stoirmy  night, 
and  crept  to  the  house  of  Alonzo  Basis,  situaJted  twelve  miles 
distant,  on  the  Oalito. 

"The  last  that  was  seen  of  these  Indian"  says  Kenney, 
"was  in  1847,  when  a  remnant  of  some  eight  or  ten 
Caranchuas  crossed  the  Rio  Grande  at  its  mouth,  begging 
their  way  into  Mexico  and  oblivion."  "In  the  year  1855," 
adds  Kuykendall,  "the  once  formidable  tribe  of  Caranchuas 
had  dwindled  to  six  or  eight  individuals,  who  were  residing 
near  San  Fei-nando,  Stats  of  Tamaulipas,  Mexico." 


CHAPTER  II. 


S  we  have  seeai,  the  principal  atiid  most  fe- 
rocious ta-ibe  with  -wliiich  Austin's  colonists 
came  in  contact,  on  their  arrival  and  for  the 
first  few  years,  were  the  Caranchuas.  But 
it  was  not  long  before  the  Wacos,  Tehua- 
canies  and  allied  tribes,  were  depredating. 

In  the  Spring  of  1824,  a  party  of  Wactos 
went  down  the  Braacs  'as  far  las  the  Kuy- 
kendall  settlement,  where  they  stole  thir- 
teen head  of  valuable  horses,  and  esicaped 
with  tJieir  booty,  having  been  pursued  somie  forty  niile^  to 
the  head  of  Cummin;gs  Creek  where  the  trail  was  lost.  Fol- 
lowing this  successful  raid,  the  Wacos  '.again  visited  the  siet- 
tlements,  ard  stele  all  the  horses  of  ]\Ir.  Jolm  Oummings. 
"We  followed  the  thieves  as  far  as  the  Yegua,  about  fifty 
miles,"  saj's  KuykendaJl,  "where  we  lost  the  trail  in  con- 
sequence of  the  groat  number  of  wild  horses  and  buffalo 
which  then  ranged  througih  tlat  section  of  country."  Many 
other  depredations  were  committed  by  thesie  Indians  about 
this  period,  but  details  ane  too  meager  folr  record.* 


*  In  consequence  of  repeated  thefts  committed  by  the  Wacos  and  T^huacanies,  Col. 
Austin,  in  July,  1S2-1,  sent  Capt.  Aylett  C.  Buckner,  with  Judge  Duke,  James  Eaird,  Thomas 
H.  Borden,  Selkirk,  Jones  and  IvIcCloskcy,  on  a  mission  to  treat  with  these  tribes.  They  took 
with  them  some  g-ocds  to  barter  with  the  Indians  for  horses.  They  crossed  the  Brazos  at 
the  San  Antonio  road  and  proceeded  up  t'  e  river  on  the  east  side  to  the  Tehuacanie  village, 
crossing  over  to  the  Waco  village,  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Waco.  They  were  well  re- 
ceived by  the  Indians,  who  had  recently  returned  from  their  summer  buffalo  hunt,  and  were 
feasting  on  buffalo  meat,  green  corn  and  beans.  They  had  also  pumpkins  and  melons.  They 
dwelt    in  comfortable  lodges,  conical  in  shape,  the  frames  of  Vt'hich  were  of  cedar  poles  or 


36  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

In  the  Sprkig  of  1826,  Austin  resolved  to  make  a  cam- 
paign agaijzist  tbe  Wacos  aaad  Tekuaeauies,  v.hose  depreda- 
tions had  norvv  becoone  frequent.  Rendezrousiinig  coi  the  Bra- 
zos at  the  crossing  of  t^iic  San  Antanio  road,  about  the  mid- 
dle of  i\Iay,  a  force  of  about  one  hundred  and  ninety  men 
was  socai  collected  and  organized.  Col,  Austin  in  command, 
■with  AyLe»it  C.  Buckner,  Horatio  Chrisman,  Bartlett  Sims, 
"William  Hall  aind  Ross  Alley,  captains  of  compajiie-is. 

The  first  day«  m'arch  brought  the  expeditioai  to  the  Lit- 
tle Brazos,  wbere  they  left  all  provisions,  save  rations  for 
three  days,  and  a  forced  march  was  ordered  against  the  In- 
diains. 

On  arriving  im  the  viciciitv  of  the  Indian  encampment, 
scouts  were  sient  to  recomnoiter,  and  fo.u!Gid  it  deserted. 
"Appearances"  says  Kuykendall,  "indicated  that  the  Tehua- 
canie  village  had  been  deserted  about  two  weeks.  The 
Waco  village  was  on  the  wesit  side  of  the  river  a  little  far- 
ther up.  We  could  not  rea>ch  it,  as  the  river  was  much 
swollen,  but  ascertaineld  that  it,  too,  was  uninhabited.  The 
Indi-aois  were  doubtless  gone  en  a  buffalo  hunt.  Their 
patch-es  of  corn  were  in  silk  and  tiassel.  There  was  an 
abundamce  of  beans,  of  which  we  picked  a  mess  or  two,  but 
n-othing  was  destroyed." 

Thus  disappointed  and  their  rations  beimg  entirely  ex- 
hausted, the  expedition  returned  to  their  supply  depot — and 
to  the  Brazes,  where  it  vrais  disbanded. 


EARLY    TRIALS    05"    DeWITT'S   COLONISTS. 

Early  as  1822,  while  Austin's  colony  -vVas  yc^  in  its  in- 
faincy,  several  American  genitlemein,  among  them!  Green  De- 
Witt    of  I\Iissouri,  appeared  in  the  city  of  Mexico,  seeking 

slats,  thatched  with  grass.  The  largest  of  these  lodges  (their  council  house)  was  fifty-nine 
paces  in  circumference.  The  Wacos  and  Tehuacanies  spoke  the  same  language,  and  were  es- 
sentially the  same  people.  Judge  Duke  estimated  the  two  tribes  would  number  between  200 
and  300  warriors.  They  had  a  great  number  of  horses  and  mules— a  small  plug  of  tobacco  be- 
ing the  price  of  a  horse,  and  a  plug  and  a  half  that  of  a  mule.  They  smoked  the  pipe  of 
peace  with  the  embassy,  and  pledged  themselves  to  peace  and  amity  with  the  colonists.  The 
embassy  remained  with  the  Indians  between  two  and  three  weeks,  and  returned  home  by  the 
same  route  they  went  out."  — Kuykendall's  Reminiscences. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  '         37 

■empresario  contracts.  Owing  to  the  rmsetttl-ed  political 
eonditionfi  of  tlie  country  at  that  i>eracd,  De  Witt's  peti- 
tion to  settle  four  hundred  jamilies  in  the  provrnce  .of  Tex- 
as, was  n.ot  approved  till  after  the  promulgation  and  enact- 
ment of  tbe  fii*st  general  colonizatioai  law  of  Coahiiila  and 
Texas,  March  24,  1825. 

Antdcipatmig  the  success  of  his  application,  which  was 
duly  granted  April  15,  1825,  De  Witt  had  pre-arranged  wnLth 
Majctr  James  K-err,  late  of  Missouri,  but  them  of  Austin's 
Colonyj  as  agent  and  surveycr  for  the  colony. 

Im  August  lof  this  year,  Major  Keitr,  ('having  recently 
buried'  Hiis  wife  and  two  oliildren  on  the  Brazos),  with  his 
negro  servant  and  six  mein,  viz.  Ei-^s^mus  ("Deaf")  Smith, 
Basil  Durbin,  Gerron  Hinds,  John  Wightman,  James  Mu- 
sic and  —  Strickland,  leaving  Sam  Felipe  de  Austin  peach- 
ed a  spot  en  Kerr's  Creek  (near  the  present  town  of  Gonzal- 
es), where  they  halted,  speedily  erected  cabins  and  laid  off 
a  site  for  the  capital  of  the  future  colony,  wMch  was 
named  Gonzales,  in  honctr  of  Don  Rafael  Gonzales,  the  first 
Governor  of  Coahuila  and  Texas.  The  location  was  most 
favorable,  but  thie  town  itself  was  of  slo^v  growth  and  for 
a  while  of  uncertain  existence,  as  will  be  seen.  "The  sur- 
Viey  of  lands  for  future  colonists,  was  prosecuted  'as  rapidly 
as  possible,"  &&ys  Brown,  "and  a  few  weeks  later,  Francis 
Berrj'  and  family  settled  near  the  crr^ek.  Of  this  ftimdly 
were  also  John  and  Betsey  Oliver,  gi'own  children  oi'  Mrs. 
BeriT  by  a  form^or  husband. 

About  the  first  of  October,  DeWitt  arrived  from  Sal- 
tillo,  and  remaimed  in  the  cclonj'  three  or  four  weeks  be- 
fore proceeding  on  'his  way  to  Missouri.  During  the  yean*,  a 
number  of  prospeictars  visited  Ihe  country,  and  aftei*  sielee- 
ting  locations  left,  to  return  latea*.  Thus  these  few  brave 
settlers  at  old  Gonzales  in  1825-6,  were  truly  vpioneers,  the  ad- 
vance guards  of  American  eivilizatioai  on  that  then  remote 
and  greatly  exposed  frontier,  their  ueiaTest  neighbors  being 
DeLecoi  and  hal^  a  doaen  Mexicams,  at  the  infant  settlements 
of  Guadalupe  Victoriia,  sixty  miles  southwaavi ;  'and  with  n-o 
roads  in  stry  direction,  save  tflieir  own  fr^ily  made     tasaal 


38  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

sixty-d'ivie  miles  «ast  to  tilie  Colorado.  But  the  '•ot  of  these 
isolated  settlers  was  not  iinitol€(rabl'e,  and  would  have  speed- 
ily improved  but  for  an  ainexpected  calamity.  Parties  of 
Indians,  professing  friendship,  frequently  called,  passing  to 
and  fro;  and  demonstrating  no  signs  of  hostility,  the  colo- 
nists apprehended  no  danger.  "Thus  matters  stood, "says 
'histotrianj  Brown,  "wli/en  the  first  day  of  July,  1826,  arrived. 
There  was  a  celebration  of  the  fourth  of  July  at  Beascn's, 
at  the  Ataseocito  crossing  of  the  Colorado,  a  few  irjiles  be- 
low the  piresent  tOAvn  of  Golumbus.  Major  Kerr  had  gone 
on  a  buffalo  .hunt.  It  was  agreed  that  Basil  Diu'bin,  John 
and  Betsey  Oliver,  and  Jack  these<rvant  boy  of  Kerr,  should 
go  on  .horsiebaeik  tio  tlie  Colorado  celJ^ration.  They  started 
on  Sunday,  July  2,  and  encamped  for  the  night  on  Thome's 
Branch,  fourteen  miles  east,  having  no  apprlehension  of 
danger  at  the  time.  The  little  party  however,  were  doom- 
ed to  disappointment,  for  about  midni^t,  w'hile  soundly 
eleeiping  on  theJo"  blankets,  they  were  suddenly  airoused  by 
the  firiu'g  of  guns  and  the  yells  of  the  Indians.  Ehirbin 
"was  shot  in  the  Moulder  by  a  muskett  ball  and  badly 
wound^cd,  but  escaped  "wdth  his  companions  into  a  thicket 
near  by,  tbe  hoo-ses  and  other  effects  beimg  left  in  tlie  pos- 
session of  the  enemy.  From  loss  of  iblood  and  intens/e  pain, 
Durbin  repeatedly  swooned,  but  was  restored  by  the  efforts 
of  his  companions  and  enabled  to  walk,  by  noon  ctn  the  fol- 
lowing day,  back  to  Major  Kerr's  cabin,  where  the  party 
•was  astonished  to  find  John  Wiglhtman  lying  dead  and 
scalped  in  the  passage  way  between  the  rooms,  and  the 
touse  robbed  of  everything,  including  important  papers  ami' 
three  compasses,  and  that  an  unsuceessful  attempt  had  been 
made  to  burn  it.  They  hiurried  to  Berry 's  cabin  and  found 
it  closed,  and  on  the  door,  written  with  charcoal,  "Gone  to 
Bumbam's  on  the  Colorado.'  " 

When  Durbin  and  his  companions  left  on  the  previouis 
day,  Stricldand,  Musiek  and  Major  Kerr's  negroes  (Shade, 
Anise  and  thiedr  four  or  five  children),  went  to  Berry's  to 
si>end  the  afternoon,  leaving  Wightman  alone  at  the  cabins. 
Returning  later  in  tOie  day,  they    found    Wightman    as      de- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  39 

scribed,  yet  warm  in  his  (yvvn  blof  d.  Hurrying  back  to 
Berry's  ivitli  the  tidings,  the  eaitire  party  started  for  the 
Colcfrado,  A^^bere  they  safely  ariived,  said  were  a  few  daj^s 
later  jointed  by  Deaf  Smith  and  Himdis..  Durlbioi's  wounds 
bad  already  rendered  him  very  weak,  Ibut  his  only  alter- 
native was  to  reach  the  sam^e  place  icn  fcot,  or  perisfli  by 
the  way.  The  weather  was  warm,  and  there  was  imminent 
daiD.ger  'of  gangrene  making  its  appearance  in  liis  wound, 
to  prevent  which,  it  was  kept  poulticed  with  mud  and  oak 
juice.  Leaning  on  Betsey  Oliver's  arm,  he  arrived  at  Bum- 
ham's  on  the  afternoon  of  the  sixth,  three  days  and  a  half 
after  starting  from  the  plaoe." 

Durfbin's  wound  soon  healed,  the  musket  ball  remaining 
in  liis  shoulder  till  death,  and  he  lived  to  participate  in  a 
number  of  other  adventures.  Seven  years  later  he  received 
six  rifle  balls  in  his  person  at  one  time,  and,  as  if  he  bore 
a  chanmed  life,  survived,  carrying  seven  balls  in  his  body 
till  his  death  in  1858. 

Thus  was  DeWitt's  colony,  like  Austin's  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Colorado,  christened  with  bleed,  and  thus  fcr  the  mo- 
meiiit  ended'  the  first  effiorts  to  found  a  settlemeait  withdm 
its  limitSL 

Following  thesse  events.  Major  Kerr  and  a  few  compan- 
ions moved  to  a  point  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Lavaca,  now 
in  Jackson  Coiunfty,  where  b-lock-houaes  were boiilt,  and  a  nu- 
cleus formed  for  the  revival  of  the  enterprise.  The  place, 
only  temporarily  occupied  for  defensive  and  rallying  pur- 
poses, was  suibsequently  known  as  the  "Old  Staticn."  Major 
Kerr  estaiblished  his  permanent  home  on  the  east  bank  of 
the  Lava<ca,  near  the  station. 

On  the  12th.  of  December,  1826,  Major  Kerr,  under  the 
authority  invested  in  him  as  surveyor-general,  oommifesioned 
BjTd  Loekhart  as  deputy-surveyorof  the  colony — a  judicious 
selection' — aoid  the  survey  of  land,  despite  daoiger  fnom  hos- 
tile Indians,  proceeded  witli  all  reasonable  dispatch,  and  emi- 
grants continued  to  arrive  and  locate  near  the  station  on  the 
Lavaca. 

DeWitt,  with  his  family,  arrived  a4:  the  "Old  Station" 


40  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

in  October,  1827,  and  during  the  sn^ceeding  wioiter,  with 
hie  ovrn  and  a  number  of  other  families,  repaired  to  Gon- 
zales and  its  vicinity,  and  then,  with  the  opening  of  the 
year  1828,  begaoi'  the  permanent  settlement  of  the  r€gion  des- 
tined to  become  the  Lexington  of  Texas  in  the  reA'olntioa  of 
1835-36.* 

As  early  as  I\Iay,  1824,  the  Mexican  Congreiss  had  paiss- 
ed  an  act  temporarily  combining  the  provinces  of  Coasliuila 
and  Texas  into  a  State,  with  a  provisional  legislature,  (Don 
Rafael  Gonzales  being  elected  governor),  and  in  March,  1825, 
as  we  hiave  seen,  the  newly  formed  government  promulgated 
a  general  Stiate  oclooization  law. 

The  fame  and  suocess  of  Austin  and  his  colony,  together 
with  the  more  liberal  provisions  of  the  new  colonization  a«t, 
induced  a  number  of  persons  to  seek  empresario  privileges. 
Among  those  who  secured  granits  amd  fulfilled  or  attempted 
to  carry  out,  their  contratcts,  were  Robert  Leftwieh,  of  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee,  (permission  April  15th,  1825,  to  settle  900 
families  in  what  was  afterwards  known  as  Robertson's  Colo- 
ny) ;  Hay  den  Edwards,  a  Kentuckian,  then  resident  of  Louis- 
iana, (eonoession  April  18th,  1825,  to  settle  800  families  in  .the 
Naeogdochas  district  of  east  Texas)  ;  and  Don  Martin  de 
Leon,  a  native  Mexican,  but  then  and  ^nce  1805,  residing  in 

♦  The  venerable  pioneer,  Noah  Smithwick,  vrho  risited  DeWitfs  Colony  in  the  Bum- 
mer of  1828,  in  a  letter  to  the  author  from  his  last  home  at  Santa  Anna,  California,  a  few 
months  before  his  death  (Oct.  21,  1893)  gives  the  following  pen  picture  of  colonial  life  at  that 
period:  The  colonists,  (DeWitfs)  consisting  of  a  dozen  families,  were  living,  if  such  ex- 
istence could  be  called  living,  huddled  together  for  security  against  the  Indians.  The  rude 
log  cabins,  windowless  and  floorless,  have  been  so  often  described  as  the  abode  of  the  pio- 
neer, as  to  require  no  description  here;  suffice  it  to  say  that  save  as  a  pai-tial  protection 
against  rain  and  sun,  they  were  absolutely  devoid  of  comfort.  •  •  •  •  Col.  DeWitt,  my  host, 
had  bread,  though  some  of  the  families  were  without.  Flour  was  $10.00  a  barrel.  But  few 
people  had  money  to  buy  anything  more  than  coffee  and  tobacco.  Money  was  as  scarce  aa 
bread.  Game  was  plentiful  the  year  round,  so  there  was  no  need  of  starving.  Men  talked 
hopeful  of  the  future;  children  reveled  in  the  novelty  of  the  present,  and  the  women  bore 
their  part  with  heroic  endurance.  Deprived  of  friends  and  former  comforts,  they  had  not 
even  the  solace  of  constant  employment.  The  spinning  wheel  and  loom  had  been  left  behind 
—  there  was  as  yet  no  use  for  them— there  was  nothing  to  spin.  There  was  no  house  to  keep 
in  order;  the  meager  fare  was  so  simple  as  to  require  little  time  for  its  preparation.  There 
was  no  poultrj',  no  dairy,  no  garden,  no  books  or  papers- and  had  there  been,  many  of  them 
could  not  read;  no  schools,  no  churches— nothing  to  break  the  dull  monotony  of  their  lives 
save  an  occasional  attack  from  Indians,  the  howl  of  some  wild  animal,  or  the  stampede  of  a 
herd  of  buffalo  or  muBtan^rs.  The  men  at  least  had  the  excitement  of  killing  game  and 
baoting  bee  trees,  roping  mostangs,  hunting  buffalo.  locating  lands  and  watching  for  hos- 
tile lodiana." 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  41 

tile  province  oi  Texas,  (comeession  of  October  6th.,  1-825,  to 
settle  forty  one  Mexican  familes,  south  of  DeWitofig  colony, 
anid  between  tlie  Lavaca  and  Guadalupe  Rivers).  A  number 
of  other  concessions  were  mad*  about  this  period  to  parties 
who  failed  of  success,  notably  to  Ben  R.  Milam,  the  famous 
"hero  of  San  Antonio,"  to  settle  200  familes  north  of  the  old 
Saax  Antionio  noiad,  amd  bietw«  en  the  Color'ado  and  Gaudalupe 
Rivers.  But  brave  Milam  was  a  soldier,  rather  tthan  civilian,, 
and  sacrific/ed  his  life  in  a  more  glorious  cause — on  the  altar 
of  liberty,  falling  in  the  moment  of  victory.  Thus  the  spirit 
of  cokmization  was  infused  throughout  the  whole  sKrat^west 
and  a  constant  tide  of  immigration  was  flowing  into  Texas^ 
giving  to  the  country  some  assurance  of  permanent  pro^er- 
ity  atnd  s-tabili'ty. 


EDWARDS'  COLONY  AND  THE  FREDONIAN  WAR. 

But  in  the  midst  of  the  gentral  prosperity,  a  dark  cloud 
arose  in  the  east,  which  for  a  time,  threatened  the  destruction 
of  the  province.  We  refer  to  the  Fredonian  revoM.  in  Ed- 
wards' Colony.  Hayden  Edwards  had  wealth  and  etnterprise,. 
and  intended  to  fill  liis  contract  in  good  faith;  but  his  loca- 
tion proved  exoeedingly  unfortunate.  For  a  long  time  a  rov- 
ing and  migratory  class  of  motley  people,  had  occupied  the 
country  about  Nacogdoches,  "heroes  of  the  Neutral  Ground," 
men  wlix),  committing  an  offense,  either  in  Mexican  or  Amer- 
ioan  territory,  here  sought  an  a^sj-lum.  Here,  too,  an  antago- 
nism hiad  arisen  between  the  Anglo-Amett-ieaaiis  and  the  Mex- 
icans, created,  perhaps,  by  the  ill-fated  filibustering  expedi- 
tions of  Nolan,  Magee  and  Long. 

Edwards'  contract  required  bim  not  only  to  respect,  but 
to  give  preference  to  Mexican  claimants.  As  soon  as  one  of 
the  new  emigrants  had  made  a  ©election  aoid  commeneed  an 
improvememt,  some  Mexican  would  appear  aoid  setup  a  claim 
for  his  land.  Tlie  alcalde  was  appealed  tlo;  but  he,  being 
elected  by  Mexican  votes,  invariably  decided  in  favor  of  hi* 
constituents.  At  an  electdion  for  a  new  alcalde,  a  majority 
of  the  votes  cjast  were  for  Chaplin,  a  gon-.in-law  of  Edwards; 


42  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

but  Norris,  who  aiithiougli  laii  Americaai,  was  in  the  interest  of 
the  Mexicianis,  was  ciouoi'ted  in,  amd  by  oirdeT  of  the  political 
ohieif,  invested  with  tlie  office.  'IGius  .supported  by  the  mili- 
tary, the  tyranny  of  tlie  alcalde  soon  became  intolerable. 
Foote,  the  ihi&torian,  and  an  intimate  friend  of  Edwards, 
grv:es  the   following  picture  of  that  turbulent  period: 

"Nacogdoches  now  b^ecame  a  scene  of  willd  upToar  and 
confusion ;  acts  of  lawless  and  crmel  violence  marked  the  his- 
tory of  .eviery  day,  and  indeied  of  every  hour;  bands  of  Reg- 
ulators, las  they  were  called,  pervaded  the  whole  country, 
under  the  ostensible  sanction  of  the  alcalde,  and  ready  to 
jcxecute  any  mandate  to  which  he  might  give  utterance.  Pri- 
vate families  were  often  driven  from  tliieir  habitations,  to 
miak^  way  for  the  piratical  m  inions  of  the  alcalde,  who  sigh- 
ed for  tlLe  comforts  which  the  honest  assiduity  of  the  colo- 
nists had  assembled  about  their  domicdleis,  and  which  they 
were  too  lazy  and  luxurious  to  acquire,  exicept  by  violence  ex- 
^rcieted  upcji  th^ir  peaceful  owners.  Respectable  oolomists 
wetre  dragged  from  their  bedsi  at  midnight  by  'an  armed  mlob, 
and  hurried  before  the  alcalde,  in  order  to  undergo  a  secret  in- 
quisition relative  to  acts  that  they  had  never  so  muelii  as 
thoTight  of  committing;  leven  the  passing  travieler  was  not 
free  from  molestation  and  outrage,  but  was  compelled  to  pay 
tribute  for  tlie  privilege  of  transit  through  the  country,  un- 
der penalty  of  forfeiting  whatever  merchandise  or  other 
prcptiity  that  was  found  in  his  possession." 

It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  free  born  and  liberty  lov- 
ing AnDftricans  would  tamely  submit  to  siujch  acits  of  injustice 
and  tyrannical  oppression. 

During  the  summer  of  18  26,  Hayden  Edwards  visited 
the  United  States  to  bring  more  colonists,  leaving  his  broth- 
er, i3«njamin  Edwards,  in  diarge  of  the  eoiony.  Im  the  ab- 
sence of  the  empresario,  seri>us  o'liarges  were  prefeiTied 
against  Jiim'  to  Grovemor  Blanco.  On  July  21st.,  Benjamin 
Edwards  addressed  empresarijo  Austin  a  long  Letter  in 
which  he  recounted  his  grievances  and  asked  for  advice.  In 
due  €oail-se  /of  time  Austin  gave  Edwards  a  reply,  in  whicli 
he  said:     "The  subject  has  caused  me  great  unhappiness,  but 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  43 

I  had  decided  not  to  intierfene  with  it  in  any  way.  It  is  a 
dangerous  one  to  tou-cJi,  and  particularly  to  write  about. 
You  wish  me  to  advise  you.  I  scarcely  know  what  course 
will  be  best.  Tlhe  uncertainty  as  to  the -precise  nature  of  the 
charges  against  you,  renders  it  difficult,  nay  impossible,  to 
name  a  regular  defense.  I  think,  however,  I  would  write  di- 
rectly to  the  governor  of  the  State.  Give  him  a  full  state- 
ment of  facts,  and  a  very  minute  history  of  the  acts  of 
your  principal  enemies  and  theijr  opponents,  and  their  man- 
ner of  doing  business  in  every  particular,  both  in  regard  to 
your  brotlier  as  well  as  all  others." 

Accordingly,  Benjamin  Ed\\'ard®  directed  a  long,  and, 
unfortunately,  somewhat  dictatorial  message  to  his  excellency, 
Governor  Don  Victor  Blanco,  vindicating  his  brother's 
course,  and  remonstrating  very  emiphatically  against  such 
treatment;  to  wftiich  that  irat«  fun<itionary,  on  the  20th  day 
of  OctO'ber,  replised — "That  bv  the  virtue  of  the  supreme 
authority  with  wihich  he  was  invested,  he  had  decreed  the 
annulment  of  the  contiraict  of  Hayden  Edwards;  and  furtlier 
morie,  ord-ered  the  lexpulsion  from  the  colony,  of  bo  till  the  Ed- 
wards 'brothers."  Haydien  Edwards  returned  just  as  ihe 
news  of  this  high-hianded  and  arbitary  act  readhed  the  colo- 
ny. He  had  spent  several  thousand  diollars  in  "bringing  dolo- 
nists  to  the  country,  and  naturally  became  very  indignant, 
resolfving  upon  resistance  and  revenge  vi  et  armis. 

At  this  juncture  two  celebrated  half-breed  Indian  dhiefs 
Richao^  Fieldsi  and  John  Dunn  Hunter,  appeared  in  the 
arena,  with  grievances  of  their  own,  in  behalf  of  their  peo- 
ple the  Cherokees.  Governor  'Trespalacies  had  promised  to 
secure  them  titles  to  the  land  they  occupied,  but  the  Mexi- 
can Government  was  slow  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment, 
and  chafirg  for  revenge  the  colonists  entered  into  a 
league,  offensive     and  defensive  with  the  Indians. 

This  compact  was  fcrmjally  signed  on  December  20, 
1826,  by  Hayden  Edwards  and  Harmion  B.  Mayo,  on  the 
part  of  the  Americans,  and  Richard  Fields  and  John  Dunn 
Hunter,  on  the  part  of  the  Indians.  The  allied  parties  at 
cnce     proceeded  to  orgianize  a    legislative   council.     Martin 


44  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

Parmer^  better  known  as  the  "Ring-Tailed     Piantlier"     was 
elected  president. 

Toi  this  alliance  it  was  stipulated  that  the  whites  were 
tO'  have  the  territory  below  the  old  San  Antonio  r«oad  and 
for  a  short  distance  albo\ie;  tJie  remainder  of  the  province, 
westward  to  the  Rao  Grande,  was  given  to  tiie  Indians. 
Slavtery,  whieli  had  been  prohibitexf  in  Mexico,  was  to  be  es- 
tablished in  both  teridtories. 

Denominating  themselves  "Fredonians,"  tiie  injured  in- 
surgents raised  the  standard  o^  revolt,  and  boldly  declared 
their  independence.  The  flag  of  Independent  Fredonia  was 
unfurled  to  the  breeze,  and,  "doubtless"  says  the  histo- 
rian lof  this  ill-planned  and  hopele.«s  revolt,  "Old  Norther, 
himself,  whio  so  often  swept  over  the  prairie«  of  Te^iais, 
stood  aghast  at  the  chilling  exhibition," 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  executive  oowncil  created    at 
Nacogdoches,  was  to  depose  the  alealde,  Norris,  and  appoint 
another.  While  thes^e  troubles  were  brewing,  Peter  E.  Bean,  a 
survivor  of  Nolan's   expedition,  and  w^hose  Mf e  ihistory  reads 
like  a  romance,  was  stationed  at  Fort  Teran,  as  Indian  agent. 
Learning  of  these  troubilos,  Bean,  with  a  small  ciompany    of 
cavalry,  marched  upon  Nacogdoches  for  the  purpose  of  quell- 
ing the  disturbance  and  to  restore  Mexican  authority.    Bean 
did  not  se>em  to  apprehend  that  he  would  have  muich  diffi- 
culty.    He,  h.aweA^er,  found  the     disturbance     more    serious 
than  anticipated,  and  on  learning  that  the  Fredonians,  about 
two  hundred  strong,  were  oecupyirig     the     old     stono  fort, 
prudentlv  decided  to  wait  for  a  reinforcement  from  San  An- 
tonio.    In  the  meantime,  he  succeded  in  detaching  most  of 
the  Indians  from  the   league.     Fields  and  Hunter,  however, 
were  faithful  to  the  last,  and  were    barbarously    assassina- 
ted by  the  very  tribes  for  whose  welfare  they  had  labored 
long    and   patiently.     The    at3:£a&isin's  first  sliiot  not  proving 
immediately   fatal,  poor  Hunter   implored   the   murderer  to 
spare   his   life,    exclaiming," it  is  hard  thus  to    die    by    the 
hands  of  my  profe£©ed  friends."     The  appeal  was  in  vain. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  45 

Another  shot  closed  the  career  of  this  strange  and  extraor- 
dinary man. 

NeaMs  of  the  revolt  reaching  Bfexar,  Governor  Siaucedo 
dispatichied  Col.  Matio  Ahnmada,  with  two  hundred  soldiers 
to  suppress  the  insurrectionists.  The  part  which  Austin  took 
in  this  affair  hja&  excited  a  good  deal  of  ciomment  and  some 
severe  criticism.  Histjorian  Foctie,  who  was  a  warm  friend 
of  the  Edwards',  conveys  the  idea  that  Ausitin  was  greatly 
perplexed  and  hesitated  long  whether  h^  would  join  the 
Fredonian  movement  or  make  war  against  it.  Such'  was  not 
the  fact.  On  the  contrary,  he  advised  tlie  leaders  of  this  re- 
A'olt  that  their  cause  was  one  of  consummate  folly,  and 
tbat  they  were  rus'hieg  upon  certain  destruction.  Indeed, 
as  an  honorable  and  trtue  citizen  of  bis  adopted  oountry,  he 
could  not  have  done  otherwise.  In  siuch  a  controversy,  neu- 
trality was  impossible,  and  instead  of  hestitating  a  moment, 
Austin,  en  the  22nd.  day  of  January,  1827,  issued  the  follow- 
ing address: 

To  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Colony: 

The  persons*  who  were  sent  on  from  this  colony  by  the 
political  ebief  anfd  military  commiandant,  to  offer  peace  to 
the  Nacogdiocihtis  madmen,  have  returned  witbout  ha\'ing  ef- 
fected anjTthing.  TJie  olive  branch  of  peace  which  was  beld 
out  to  them  bais  beean  insultingly  refused,  and  tibat  party 
has  denofunccid  amaissacre  and  dissolution  on  t^his  colony. 
They  are  trying  to  excite  all  the  northern  Indians  to  mur- 
der and  plunder,  and:  at  appears  as  tbougfb  they  haive  no 
o.tIhier  'Object  than  to  ruin  and  plunder  this  country.  They 
openly  threaten  us  with  Indian  massacre  and  the  plunder  of 
our  pnoperty.  'To  arms,  tben,  my  friends  and  fellow-citi- 
zens, and  hasten  to  the  standard  lof  'Our  country.  Tllie  iirst 
hundred  men  "will  march  on  the  26th.  Necessarj"  lorders  for 
mustering  and  other  purposes  will    be    issued  to  tbe    com- 

*  Austin  sent  a  delegation  of  citizens— Abner  Kuykendall,  Judge  Ellis,  Francis  W. 
Johnson,  and  James  Cummings— from  his  colony,  accompained  by  James  Kerr  from  De- 
Witt's  colony,  to  confer  and  fraternally  remonstrate  with  the  Fredonians.  and  endeavor  to 
dissuade  them  from  rash  measures.    The  delegation  failed  to  accomplish  the  object  desired. 


46 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 


m.am-ding  officers.     Unijon  and  Mexico! 

S.  F.  Austin. 
San  Felipe  de  Austin, 

22n!d.  January,  1827. 

The  new®  of  Coloaiel  Ahnmada's  approaoli  eomplotely 
demoTialized  the  Fredonians.  They  miscalculated.  their 
strength.  No  hielp  reiachied  them  froim'  itlie  settlement  of 
Pecan  Point,  on  Red.  River,  nor  from  Ayishi  Baycu.  But 
they  were  still  more  chagrined  at  thie  cours'e  of  Austin's 
colony,  and  luastily  retreated  across  th^e  Sabine,  leaiving  a  few 
0^  tiieir  piartisans,  whio  were  eaptured'  by  tili'e  MeiXii<3anB. 
And  now  it  M^as'  that  Austin  exerted  his  influence  to  good 
purpose ;  instead  of  putting  them  to  d'eatth,  laccordinig  to 
the  custom,  tjhey  were,  at  his  earnest  siolicditation,  pardoned 
and  Ktet  at  liberty.  This  magnanimious  conduct  called  forth 
a  letter  from  Edwards,  in  which  he  returned  grateful 
thanks  to  Ahumada  for  his  humanity. 

And  thus  this  unfortunate  rebellion  passed  away  and 
was  number'ed  with  the  things  that  were. 


'-,--WTy^^  .i.^J'      ^        r^         Ij   ,  t     ,,|if 


CHAPTER  III. 


EFEATED  in  almcst  every  engagement, 
and  melting-  av;ay  before  the  unerring  rifles 
of  Austin's  colonists,  the  formidable  coast 
tribC' — the  Caranchuas — Jiad  been  forced 
to  retreat  and  sue  for  peace.  DeWitt's 
Colony,  surviving  the  serious  misfortunes 
which  befell  it  in  the  Summer  of  1826,  v^as 
rapidly  taking  on  new  life  and  energy. 
The  Fredonian  mutiny  did  not  seriously 
affect  or  retard  the  growth  of  Austin's  Colony,  and 
with  its  quelling  a  period  of  comparative  peace  and 
prosperity  prevailed.  But  this  state  of  quiet  was  not 
of  long  duration.  The  Wacos  and  Tehuacanies  who  had  been 
more  'Or  less  troublesome  all  along,  now  became  openly  hostile 
and  were  depredating  on  the  settlers  of  the  Brazos  and  Col- 
orado, to  anu  alarmin^g  extent.  "Indeed"  says  Y,oakum,  "the 
grant  of  Milam,  laying  between  the  Guadalupe  and  Colorado 
Rivers,  and  north  of  the  Bexar  road,  could  not  well  be  set- 
tled because  of  hostile  Indians." 

In  die  winter  of  1828-9,  a  party  of  these  Indians  enter- 
ed Fayette  county,  camping — so  the  bluffs  would  protect 
them  from  the  chilling  winds — in  the  bed  of  Ross  Creek; 
whjero  they  miglut  have  remai-Qed  undisturbed  had  they  not 
killed  a  worrthy  Mexdoan  lesident  of  tho  neighborhood. 
Wlierieupon  a  party  consisting,  of  James  Tomlinson,  J.  J. 
Ross,  A.  A.  Anderson,  John  %yer  and  otbers,  attacked  and 
routed  tiho  murderous  intrud^rgj  killing  eighit  of  thiem     out- 


48  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

rigid,  and  seve^'-ely  wo-imdimg  seven  miore,  w^hio  manag-ed  to 
escape,  but  perisih,ed  soon,  it  w^as  suppciscd,  as  cinly  one  of 
thijS'  .nnfortumat'e  party  was  knownttoliave  reached  his  tribe.* 

"When  the  Indians  were  attacked,"  says  J.  J.  Ross, 
who  furnisllieid  the  above  facts,  "some  wcne  lyMig  down, 
some  parching  coim,  ard  others  were  engaged  in  a  scalp 
dance.  An  attempt  was  made  to  burn  the  bod ies  of  the  dead 
Indiaais,  but  with  poor  success — ^only  criaping  tihieir  skins. 
Their  bleaching  bones  long  remained  on  the  battle  gronind." 

About  this  time  one  Thomas  Thompson  opened  a  small 
farm  near  the  present  town  of  Bastrop,  and  occasionally 
A^isited  it  to  cultivate  and  take  care  of  his  crops.  On  going 
*here  in  July,  1829,  he  found  the  Indians  in  possession.  Re- 
turning below  for  assistance  he  was  joined  by  ten  men  with 
whom  he  approached  the  Indian  camp  at  night.  At  day- 
light they  killed  four  of  the  savages  and  routed  the  others. 

Of  course  these  affairs  were  unfortunate  and  served  to 
increase  hostilities — Yoakum  says  they  opened  the  war.  At 
any  rate,  "numerous  cases  of  murder  and  theft  had  occur- 
red, and  it  became  necessary  to  apply  a  remedy" — which 
impresario  Stephen  Austin  promptly  did. 


THE  WAR  OPENS  AGAINST   THE   WILD    TRIBES. 

Captain  Abner  Kuykendall:- 

The  Indians  have  robbed  a  large  drove  of  horses  from 
a  traveler  who  stopped  at  Ratcliff's  en  the  Lavaca.  They 
were  pursued  two  days  by  a  few  men  and  overtaken  be- 
tween the  Colorado  and  Brazos,  below  the  San  Antonio  road. 
Inhere  was  one  white  man — supposed  to  be  an  American — 
and  fifteen  Indians.  It  is  highly  important  that  the  trail 
should  be  followed  so  as  to  ascertain  what  Indians  and 
white  man  or  men  have  become  so  base  as  to  commit  this 
depredation;  and  to  punish  them — aJso  recover  the  horses. 

A  party  of  volunteers  is  ready  at  Beason's  to  follow  the 
robbers,  and  a  number  will  go  from  here.  It  is  their  wish 
and  also  mine,  that  j^ou  take  the  command;  and  I  hope  and 

♦  Statement  of  Mr.  Penning-ton,  an  Indian  trader,  then  among  this  tribe. 


SAM     HOUSTON 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  49 

expect  that  you  will  undertake   the     expedition     if     your 
health  will  permit. 

I  hereby  authorize  you  in  the  name  of  the  Government, 
and  of  the  civil  authorities,  whom  I  have  consulted,  to  take 
the  command  of  said  party  of  volunteers,  and  to  pursue  and 
kill  said  robbers,  be  tJiey  Indians  or  whites,  and  to  recover 
the  stolen  horses,  and  do  sueh  other  aets  as  in  your  judg- 
ment be  deemed  necessary,  equitable  and  proper,  to  punish 
the  robbers  and  afford  security  to  our  exposed  and  scatter- 
ed settlements,  by  making  a  severe  and  striking  example 
which  will  have  the  effect  to  prevent  tlie  repetition  of  simi- 
lar outrages  by  the  lawless  bands  who  are  mo\'ing  through 
these  unsettled  wilds. 

You  will,  however,  be  cautious  of  offending  innocent 
persons,  as  you  will  be  responsible  for  any  wanton  cruelty 
committed  by  your  men  while  acting  by  your  orders,  on  the 
innoeent.  You  will  keep  a  journal  of  your  proceedings  and 
report  same  to  me  on  your  return. 

Town  of  Austin,  August  23,  1829. 

Stephen  F.  Austin,   Col.   of  Ma, 

This  order  was  received  by  Capt.  Kuykendall  the  even- 
ing of  the  same  day  it  was  written,  and  in  obedience  there- 
to, with  his  two  sons,  William  and  Barzillai,  he  left  on  the 
ensuing  morning  for  the  Colorado,  where  he  arrived  the 
same  day  and  was  joined  by  eight  men — "most  cf  whom 
were  old  frontiersmen" — to-wit:  Norman  Wocds,  Join  F. 
Berry,  Elijah  Ingram,  John  Williams,  Thomas  Thompson, 
Seaborn  Jones,    ....    Hazlitt,    and  one  not  remembered. 


FIERCE    FIGHT   NEAR  THE  OLD  CABIN. 

"We  now  counted  eleven,"  says  Kuykendall,  whose  nar- 
rative we  follow,  "and  resolved  to  pursue  the  Indians  with- 
out losing  further  time  to  increase  our  force.  We  forded 
the  Colorado  at  the  crossing  of  the  La  Bahia  road  and  pro- 
ceeded eight  or  nine  miles  up  the  river,  when  about  noon, 
we  discovered  people  moving  about  an  eld  cabin.  As  we 
knew  the  inhabitants  of  this  neighborhccd  had,  some  time 
previously,  been  driven  from  their     homes     by  the  Indians, 


50  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

this  circumstance  excited  some  surprise,  an<i  Hazlitt  and 
another  man  were  dispatched  on  foot  towards  the  cabin  t-o 
ascertain  the  character  of  its  visitors.  The  rest  of  us  sat 
in  our  saddles,  concealed  by  a  point  of  woods. 

"In  order  to  approach  near  the  house,  Hazlitt  and    his 
companion  had  to  pass  through  a  cornfield.     Tliey  h^ad  not 
proceeded  far  in  tJie  field  when  an  Indian  shot  an  arrow  at 
Hazlitt,  and  raising  a  war  whoop,  fled  to  the  cabin.    As  he 
ran  straight  between  the  rows   of  corn,  Hazlitt  shot  him  in 
the  back.     The  instant  we  heard  the  alarm  we  galloped  for- 
ward and  saw  five  Indians  on  foct,   lunnirg  up  the   river, 
trying  to  reach  a  thicket  on  its    bank,  tw.o  or  three    hun- 
dred yards  above  the  cabin.     Spurring   our  horses  to  their 
best  speed,  we  intercepted  them^  a  short  distance  below  the 
thicket.    As   we   dismounted,  each  man  dropped  the  coil  of 
his  tethering  rope   from  the  pommel    of    his     saddle      and 
charged  the  Indians  on  foot.     They  were  now^  compelled  to 
fight  us  in  the  open  prairie  or    leap    down    the    precipitous 
bank  of  the  ri^er.     They  chose  the  latter  alternative.    Nor- 
man Woods  shot  one  as  he  was  in  the  act  of  leaping  off  the 
bluff.    'The  remaining  four  threw  away  their     arrows     and 
plunged  into  the  Colorado.     As  they  swam  toward  the  oppo- 
site shore,  we  plied  them  with  two  or  three  rounds  of  rifle 
balls,  and  sank  two  midway  the  river.     The  remaining     two 
reached  the  opposite  shore  with  mortal  wounds  from  which 
w^e  could  distinctly  see  the  blood   flowing.     One   of     them 
uttered  a  few  words  in  a  very   louid   voice    anid  almost   in- 
stantly afterward  our  ears  were  assailed  with  terrific  yells 
from  the  thicket  above  us,  accompanied  by  a  flight  of  ar- 
rows and  discharge  of  fire  arms.     Turning  toward  our  un- 
expected assailants,  we  saw  several  of  them  running  toward 
our  horses.     We  also  ran  in  the  same  direction,  and  all  the 
Indians,  except  two,  returned  to  the  thicket.     These     two 
Indians  succeeded  in  reaching  our  horses,  of  which  each  se- 
lected and  mounted  one  and  drove  all  the  rest  save  two,  be- 
fore them — ^yelling  and  firing  off  their  guns  to  frighten  the 
horses  and  urge  them  to  greater  speed.    The  two  men  whose 
horses  were  left,  mounted  them   and  pursued   the  Indians, 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  51 

thf;  r€st  of  "US  following  as  fast  as  possible  on  foot.  After 
trailing  nearly  a  mile  and  a  half  we  discovered  our  horses 
standing  in  a  grove.  Suspecting  a  ruse,  we  approached 
them  with  caution,  but  found  no  enemy. 

"Having  now  recovered  all  cur  horses  but  two  (those  of 
Thompson  and  Williamson),  we  returned  to  the  scene  of 
action.  Every  Indian  had  disappeared.  The  one  shot  by 
Woods  was  still  alive,  sitting  under  the  bank.  Deeming  it 
an  act  of  mercy  to  put  an  end  to  his  suffering,  Woods  shot 
him  in  the  head. 

"After  collecting  the  arms  of  the  defeated  Indians, 
consisting  of  bows  and  arrows  and  one  or  two  shot  guns, 
w'e  went  into  the  field  to  look  for  the  Indian  shot  by  Haz- 
litt.  We  did  not  find  him,  but  picked  up  his  belt  which 
had  been  cut  in  two  by  the  rifle  ball.  This  satisfied  us 
that  he  had  received  a  mortal  \k'Gund.  His  body  was  after- 
w^ards  foucd  outside  the  field.  The  remains  of  the  two  who 
reached  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  were  also  found  af- 
terv/.';rds — making  six  killed.  Not  one  cf  cur  party  was 
hurt,  though  Berry,  after  the  engagement,  fainted  from  the 
effect    of    heat    and    over-exrtion 

"There  were  at  least  forty  or  fifty  of  these  Indians— 
Waccs  and  Tawacanies.  They  were  well  provided  with 
ropes  and  bridles,  and  had  doubtless  come  on  a  stealing  ex- 
pedition. Ihe  survivors  left  the  Colorado  without  commit- 
ting any  depredations. 

"As  we  were  reduced  to  but  nine  mounted  men,  two  of 
whose  horses  weare  alre'ady  broken  down,  we  were  constrain- 
ed to  forego  the  pursuit  of  the  thieves  who  had  stolen  the 
■CiavaJlada,  and  returned  home.  That  evening  we  traveled 
about  five  miles  on  our  return,  and  slept  at  a  spring  about 
three  miles  above  the  present  town  of  La  Grange." 


THE  SAN  SABA  EXPEDITION. 

Immediatelv  lafter  arriving    home    and  reporting  to  Col. 
Austin,  Capt,  Kuykendall  received  the  following  order: 

"You  will  call  a  muster  of  your  company  and  endeavor 


52  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

to  raise  volunteers  to  go  against  the  Indians.  If  you  can- 
not get  volunteers  enough  to  make  ane  fourth  the  number 
of  men  ccmposirg  your  company,  you  will  raise  them  by 
draft.  You  will  renidezvons  at  this  place  with  at  least  ooie 
fourth  the  men  composing  your  company,  on  the  12th,  of 
September  next,  armed  and  equipped  as  the  law  directs, 
with  prcvisicr.s  for  a  campaign  of  forty  days.  By  order 
of  S.  F.  Austin.  Oliver  Jones,  Adjt." 

Capt.  Abner  Kuykendall. 

Similar  orders  were  issue  d  to  Bartlett,  Simms  and  oth- 
er captains  cf  the  militia  in  the  colony,  "About  the  same 
time,  but  \nthout  concert,"  says  John  Henry  Brown,  "a 
■company^  of  thirty-nine  men  of  DeWitt's  Colony,  under 
Capt.  Henry  S.  Brown,  left  Gonzales  en  a  mission  against 
the  depredatiing  hostiles,  supposed  to  be  in  the  mcran- 
tains." 

'The  contingents  cf  the  different  companies  frcm  Aus- 
tin's Colony,  rendezvoused  on  the  east  side  of  the  Colorado 
about  twelve  miles  below  the  present  t€wn  of  La  Grange, 
where,  between  the  15th.  and  20th.  of  Septem,ber,  the  re- 
quired force  of  one  hundred  men  was  collected  and  organ- 
ized,  under   the    command    of  Abner  Kuykendall, 

Striking  the  San  Gabriel,  the  expedition  marched  up 
that  stream — scouring  the  country  between  the  Brazos  and 
Colorado^ — .ard  acrc&s  the  country  to  a  point  near  the  head 
of  what  is  now  known  as  the  Salt  Fork  of  the  Lampasas, 
and  some  thirty  miles  from  the  mouth  cf  the  San  Saba; 
where  it  halted  and  sent  out  spies  to  locate  the  encampment 
cf  the  Indians, 

Returning  .on  the  second  morning,  the  spies  reported  a 
large  encampment  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Colorado,  two  or 
three  miles  below  the  month  of  the  San  Sal  a,  and  "that 
they  were  engaged  in  a  dance,  as  they  could)  distinctly  hear 
the  sound  cf  a  sort  of  castinet  which  the  Indians  used  on 
such  occasions," 

It  was  evident  the  Indians  were  not  aware  of  the  a,p- 
profiching  forces,  and  planning  a    night    march,    Kuykendall 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  53 

determined,  if  possible,  to  make  a  surprise  attack  at  day- 
light the  fol'lowdiig  morning.  At  sundown  the  command 
was  in  motion  and  on  the  march.  We  quote  from  Kuyken- 
dall:-  "Night  soon  closed  around  us.  Tihere  was  no  moon 
but  the  sky  was  cloudless  and  starry.  Our  route  lay  over  a 
prairie,  studded  with  lo'w  hills,  and  in  some  places  very 
rocky.  Hour  after  hour  the  long  double  files  of  horsemen 
followed  th,e  guide.  There  was  ruo  confusion  in  our  rai^ks,  rare- 
ly was  a  word  spoken,  yet  our  march  was  far  from  being 
noiseless.  The  hard,  metamorphic  limestone  rang  like  met- 
al beneath  the  tread  of  our  horses,  and  ever  and  anon 
we  invaded)  the  domain  of  a  community  of  rattlesnakes,  of 
which  we  were  promptly  notified  by  rapid  vibrations  of 
their  rattles.  Our  guide  conducted  us  toward  nearly  every 
point  of  the  compass,  and  at  length,  long  aiter  midnight, 
declared  he  was  bew'ildered  an-d  could  ccrcuct  us  no  fur- 
ther until  daylight.  All  now  suspected  the  fid<?lity  of  our 
guide — a  Mexican  who  had  once  lived)  with  the  Waeos  and 
Tawacanies.  Perhaps  he  was  actuated  by  cowardice,  per- 
haps by  revived  affection  for  his  quandoni  friends;  but 
whatever  his  motive.*,  it  is  highly  probabl-e  that  but  for 
his  ccrduct  the  expedition  Avould  have  been  completely 
feucces&ful." 

Still  anxious  to  effect  a  surprise  attack,  Kuykendall 
concealed  his  force  in  a  dense  cedar-brake  to  await  another 
night,  meanwhile  sending  out  six  of  his  men,  Wm.  Dever, 
.t\mos  Gates,  Sebe  Jones,  Jeff  Prayor  and  one  other,  with  a 
(Jbiekasaw  Indian,  named  John,  on  foot  to  explore  a  route 
to  the  Colorado  RiA'er  and  locate  a  crossing. 

They  had  proceeded  about  one  and  one  half  miles, 
when  tliey  were  discovered  iby  twenty-five  mounited  In- 
dians, who  charged  upon  them,  yelling  like  demons.  It 
was  a  hard  race  and  a  miraculous  escape  for  the  spies,who 
by  making  repeated  stands  and  runs,  succeeded  in  reach- 
ing their  companions  and  giving  the  alarm.  "^Meantime" 
says  Kuykendall,  "the  Loud  cries  of  the  Indians  had 
been  heard  at  our  camp  and'  the  whole  command  was 
hastening     to     the     rescue.       When    William     Dever    per- 


54  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

eeiv-ed  that  succor  was  close  at  band'  he  sliot,  and  it  v/as 
believed,  mortally  wounded  one  of  the  Indians.  At  this  m.0- 
ment  -our  whole  force  came  up,  and  the  Indians  fled  at  full 
speed.  Following  in  rapid  pursuit,  th,e  village  was  soon  dis- 
covered in  a  bend  of  the  river,  almost  concealed  by  a  low 
wooded  hill — the  valley  around  being  almost  literally  cov- 
ered with  mounted  Indians — men,  women  and  children,  fly- 
ing to  the  yellow  cedar-brakes  in  the  adjacent  hills." 

The  Texans  dashed  across  the  river,  and  into  the  vil- 
lage, but  most  of  the  Indians  had  fled  and  but  few  shots 
were  fired,  one  by  Nestor  Clay,  killing  an  Indian,  a  Tehua- 
canie  chief. 

Detachments  were  sent  in  puiisuit  but  the  Indians  Jiad 
escaped  to  their  mountain  fastnesses;  only  a  few  women 
and  children  were  overtaken,  who  were  of  course  unmo-. 
lested. 

The  Indians  lest  their  entire  camp  equipage,  includ- 
ing a  considerable  amount  of  corn,  blankets,  robes,  brass 
kettles,  etc.,  and  a  large  number  of  horses,  all  of  which  was 
secured  by  the  victors. 

"We  encamped  up'Cn  the  ground  evacuated  by  the  In- 
dians," says  Kuykendall.  "Their  conical,  buffalo  skin  cov- 
ered lodges  were  still  standing,  and  within  them  we  found 
their  entire  store  of  winter  provisions,  namely,  several  hun- 
dred bushels  of  corn  and  beans,  and  a  quantity  o^  dried  buf- 
falo meat.  Many  buffalo  robes  were  also  found  and  on  the 
fires  were  still  boiling,  several  kettles  of  corn  and  beans — 
all  of  which  property  was  consigned  to  the  flames,  or  other- 
wise destroyed.  The  site  of  this  encampment  was  very  beau- 
tiful and  had  apparently  often  been  temporarily  occupied  by 
the  Indians;  but  there  were  no  traces  of  agricultural  oper- 
ations. Early  the  ensuing  morning.  Captain  Henry  Brown, 
with  a  company  of  thirty  men  from;  Gonzales  rode  into 
camp." 

"He  had  discovered  the  camp,"  says  John  Henry 
Brown,  "secreted  his  men,  put  out  concealed  watches,  and, 
like  Kuykendall,  expected  to  attack  at  dawn  the  following 
morning.    He  had  passed  through  the  mountains  on  the  east 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXA8  66 

side  of  the  Guadalupe,  across  the  Piedemaleii  and  Llano,  to 
the  head  of  the  Sao  Saba.  He  encountered  two  small  bands. 
In  the  first  he  killed  three  Indians.  Near  the  Enchanted  Rock, 
he  surprised  the  second  band.  Five  or  six  Indian.:;  fell,  the 
remainder  escaped  into  the  den&e  brush.  Both  appeiared  to 
be  only  hunting"  parties  of  warriors.  It  was  on  this  trip 
that  Captain  Brown,  with  his  men,  became  the  first  discov- 
erers of  the  Enchanted  Rock.  He  had  followed  the  San  Saba 
down  to  its  mouth,  and  a  little  below  discovered  the  In- 
dian encampment.  Neitiier  Brown  nor  Kuykendall  knew 
of  the  other  being  in  that  section  until  lafter  the  attack 
upon,  and  routinigt  of  the  Indians." 


Such  bold  expeditions  by  sueh  eagaeious  leadeirsi  went 

."a.  tuwaad  keeping  the  Indians  ini  check,  but  it  was'  im- 
pjs  ible  to  effectively  protect  the  long-  line  of  exposed 
frontier,  and  bandj  of  hostile  maraudera  were  constantly 
scooping  down,  and  slipping  in,  stealing,  killing,  a^nd  th-wn 
.lU.civiy  retreating,  back  to  their  mountain  homes. 


EARLY  BORDER  CHIEFS. 

The  commanders  of  these  early  expeditions  boldly  pene- 
trating so  far  into  the  Indian  country,  as  they  did,  deserve 
at  least  further  brief  notice. 

Atnet  Kuykendall  was  one  of  the  very  early  settlers  in 
Austin's  Colony,  having  emigrated  from  Arkansas  Territory, 
and  camped  on  the  west  dde  of  the  Brazos  River,  at  the  La 
Bahia  road  crossing,   on  Nov.  26,  1821. 

About  the  first  of  January,  1822,  he  settled  more  per- 
manently on  New  Year's  Creek,  some  ten  miles  we>t  of  the 
Bra20s,  and  about  four  miles  south  of  the  present  town  of 
Independence. 

Kuykendall  brought  several  head  of  cattle  and  a  few 
hog^  to  the  colony.     He  was  axtensively  known  and  highly 


5-6  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS 

esteemed  bj  his  fellow  colonists  as  a  brave  and  worthy  gen- 
tleman'. He  was  early  appointed  Captain  of  Militia  and 
served  in  moist  of  the  campaigns  and  expeditions  against 
Indians  during  the  colonial  period. 

The  foUo'Wing  letter  gives  briefly  the  facts  of  the  tragic 
and  deplorable  fate  of  this  early  pioneer  and  venerable  pa- 
triarch of  Austin's  Colony: 


1117  Bell  Ave.,  Houston,  Texas. 
James  T,  DeShields,  Esq., 

Farmersville,  Texas. 
My  Dear  Sir: 

Yours  of  Dec.  6th  received  and  contents  noted.  In  re- 
ply will  ,say  Capt.  Abner  Kuykendall  was  killed  in  1834  at 
San  Felipe,  by  a  man  named  Clayton,  who  was  hung  for 
the  crime — his  beinig  the  s.econd  of  the  only  two  legal  ex- 
ecutions for  murder  in  Austin's  Colony.  Kuykendall  was 
stabbed  in  the  neck  with  a  knife  which  broke  off,  and  he 
died'  of  lockjaw. 

Claytolii  was  a  Mississippi  an.  He  was  raised  by  an  aunt 
living  near  Natchez.  He  killed  a,  cousin  in  Mississippi  in 
1832  or  1833,  and  ran  away  to  Texas.  His  aunt  heard  of  his 
last  trouble  and  came  to  San  Felipe  in  1834,  but  when  she 
found  how  he  had  killed  Kuykendall,  she  returned  home 
without  seeing  him.  Mrs.  Clayton  stayed  at  my  father's 
house  while  here. 

I  knew  Joe  Kuykendall,  a  brothe-r — was  a  prisoner  with 
him  in  1836,  and  knew  him  many  yearA  after,  until  his 
death  in  Fort  Bend  county.  He  came  to  Texas  in  1822. 
Hopinjg  the  information  may  profit  you, 

Yours  truly, 

J.  R.  Fenn. 


Capt.  Kuykendall's  place  of  nativity  and  date  of  birth 
are  .unknown — his  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Owen  Shanon,  and 
a  sister  of  John  and  Jacob  Shanon.  Two  of  her  nephews, 
Matthew  and  Jacob,  may  yet  surviv^e. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS  57 

Henry  Stephenson  Brown  was  born  in  Madison  county, 
Kentucky,  March  8,  1793,  and  in  December,  1824,  in  compa- 
ny with  his  brother,  John,  afterwards  known  as  "Waco" 
Brown,  landed  at  the  mouth  ot  the  Brazos  with  a  large  stock 
of  goods  for  the  Mexican  and  Indian  trade.  Engaged  in  this 
hazardous  business  at  that  period,  it  is  but  natural  that 
they  should  encounter  many  dangers  and  participate  in  nu- 
merous thrilling  adventures,  the  details  of  which  would  fill 
a  volume.  We  make  brief  extracts  from  the  biographies  of 
these  brave  and  worthy  pioneers,  and  early  defenders  of  in- 
fant Texas:  "In  1825  Capt.  Brown  sent  his  brother  with 
a  large  cango  of  goods  to  trade  with  the  Comanches  in  the 
upper  icountry.  James  Musick,  Thomas  Jamison  and  An- 
drew Scott  went  with  him.  They  succeeded  in  reaching 
Clear  Fork  of  the  Brazo^i  liiver,  without  being  molested  and 
f oundl  the  Indians  very  friendly,  and  anxious  to  trade.  And 
soon  they  were  wending  their  way  homeward  with  eleven 
hundred  horses  and  mules,  and  as  many  buffalo  robes  as 
they  could  manage,  on  their  pack  mules.  The  Indiana  as- 
sisted them  a  day  or  two  on  their  way,  and  on  the  fourth 
night  they  icamped  on  the  Brazos,  about  where  the  pres- 
ent town  of  Meridian  stands.  All  retired  congratvdating 
themisedveiS  upon  the  succesiSi  of  their  expedition,  and  what 
was  their  surprise,  when  midnight  yells,  and  the  firing  of 
guns  disturbed  their  quiet  slumbers.  All  sprang  to  their 
feet.  Mr.  Brown,  being  a  cripple  from  white  swelling,  fell 
over  one  of  his  companions.  All  thinking  that  he  was 
dead,  fled  into  the  bottom.  Brown  secreted  himself  in 
some  brush  nearby,  where  he  remained  until  daylight,  nat- 
urally thinking  that  his^  companions  would  do  likewise. 
But  to  his  dismay,  he  found  liimi^elf  all  alone,  lame,  and 
weak,  without  food;  yet  with  a  brave  resolution  he  stacfted, 
limping  homeward.  After  traveling  for  three  days,  with 
blistered  feet  and  aching  heart,  and  almost  famishing,  he 
wa.i  suddenly  surrounded  by  a  band  of  Waco  Indians.  Moat 
of  them  seemed  anxious  to  kill  him  but  some  pleaded  for  his 
life,  which  was  spared  on  account  of  his  lameness.  He  was 
tiieji  mounted  amd  •carriedi  to  their  principal   village,   wher« 


58  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXA8 

the  present  city  of  Waco  is  loc.itcd.  His  companions,  sup- 
posing that  he  fell  dead,  traveled  ;ill  the  first  night,  and 
concealed  themselves  in  thickets  during  the  day.  In  this 
manner  they  traveled  until  they  reached  .the  settlements, 
where  they  reported  the  death  of  Brown  and  their  great  loisis 
of  property. 

"Simultaneously  with  this  expedition,  was  Capt.  Brown's 
first  trip  tO'  Mexico,  but  fortunately  with  much  better  suc- 
cess, as  he  returned  in  a  few  montlis  with  a  Large  number 
of  horses  aJid  mules  for  the  Louisiana  and  Mississippi  trade, 
and  ia  considerable  amount  of  IMexican  coin.  On  reaching 
San  Fedipe,  ke  ncard  of  the  sad  fate  of  his  brother,  but  had 
a  presentiment  that  he  still  lived,  and  resodved  upom  his 
ifcSKJue.  In  a  short  time  after  his  arrival,  he  started)  with 
forty-one  volunteers  in  ocarch  of  his  brother.  On  arriv- 
ing at  the  Waco  village,  he  found  them  hostile,  and  at- 
tacked them.  After  some  resistance,  and'  killing  several  of 
their  number,  they  fled,  and  nine  of  them  were  shot  while 
crossing  the  river.  Heavy  rains  prevented  further  pursuit, 
and  in  fact  gave  much  difficulty  in  returning  home,  awing 
to  the  boggy  condition  of  the  country  through  which  they 
passed,  now  embracing  the  counties  of  MiLam,  Burleson  and 
Lee. 

"While  halting  on'  the  Medina  River,  he  was  attacked 
by  twelve  Tehuaeiana  Indians  who  had  followed,  and  intend- 
ed I-obbinjg  him.  In  the  fight  he  killed  several,  and  the  oth- 
ers fled. 

"Resuming  his  vooation,  Captain  Brown  made  a  s-econd 
trip  into  Mexico,  and  returned  in  the  £all  oif  1826  with  sev- 
eral hundred  horses. 

"While  halting  at  San  Felipe,  a  maji  wias  discovered  ap- 
proaching rapidly  from  the  west.  He  seemed  to  be  an  In- 
dian riding  on  horseback.  Dashing  up,  he  suddenly  rein-ed 
his  hors»e,  dismounted  and  sprang  tow.ard  Capt.  Brown,  ex- 
claiming,, 'Brother  Henry,  don't  you  know  mei?'  He  was 
tbo  lost  and  mourned  brother.  Briefly  he  explained  his 
eighteen  month  '  captivity;  how  he  had  tried  every  means  of 
■escape  until  he  iliad  siuoceeded  while  with    a    company     o-f 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  59 

S'cventeeii/  ,on  Cummings  Creek,  now  in  Fayiette  County — 
JJUe  band  liaviiig  dom^e  down  to  rob  and  kill  the  settlers. 
Now  was  the  opportunijty — with  h.is  own  well  armed  party 
and  a  few  voluiLt6ers,  about  20  in  all,  Capt.  Brown  rodio  all 
niglit  and  at  daylight  ithe  following  morning,  surprised  tlie 
Indians  killing  all  except  one  who  escaped  to  carry  tidings 
of  the  fate  of  his  comrades  to  his  people  on  the  Brazos." 

With  varying  success  Capt.  Bi-own  c<:ntinuied  his  busi- 
ness as  a  trader,  making  frequent  trips  to  and  from  Mexi- 
co. The  sequel  to  one  of  his  return  trips  is  thus  given  by 
Jiis  s-on  and  biographer — John  Henry  Brown — "In  the  montih 
,of  December,  1828,  Capt.  Brown  was  returning  from  a 
trading  expediticn  to  INIiexico,  having  as  the  proceeds  of 
his  v.enture,  about  500  Ji,orses  and  a  consid.erable  amount  lOf 
silver  in  rawhide  wrappers.  He  had  with  him  nine  Mexi- 
can ranchers,  a  faithful  Clierokee  Indian,  named  Luke,  and 
two  or  three  Americans.  At  night  on  tlie  road  between  San 
Antonio  and  Gonzales,  his  animals  were  stampeded  and 
drivfn  off  by  a  party  of  hostile  Indians,  leaving  a  portion 
of  his  men  on  foot.  He  repaired  to  Gonzales  and  increased 
his  force  to  twenty  nine  men.  With  these  he  moved  leisure- 
ly up  the  country  through;  the  mountains,  and  finally  cross- 
ed the  Colorado  a  little  above  the  miOutJi  of  Pecan  Bayou, 
into  the  present  territory  of  Brown  County,  hoping  to  sur- 
prise an  Indian  village,  and  recover  h.is  own  or  an  equal 
number  of  horses  and  mules. 

"He  suddenly  came  upon  an  eneampment  almost  desti- 
tute of  horses,  and  scarcely  any  women  or  children.  Quite 
a  fight  ensued,  the  defiant  Indians,  killing  one  of  Brown  s 
Mexicans,  besides  wounding  several  of  his  men  slightly.  But 
several  Indians  falling,  the  balance  suddenly  fled  into  the 
creek  bottom. 

"Capt.  Brown,  still  anxious  to  find  the  object  of  his 
search,  traveled  westerly  till  night,  and  encamped.  Dur- 
ing tbe  night  some  of  the  ^ard  discovered  a  camp  fire 
apparently  about  two  miles  distant.  As  day  dawned  the 
party  mounted,  and  moving  cautiously,  struck  the  village 
just  as  it  was  light  enough  to  see.    Six  of  the  Mexicans,  un- 


60  ^    ■;_  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

der  prior  instructioES,  stampeded'  the  Indians'  horses.  The 
ether  twenty  three  men.  cov.ered  the  rear,  and  prepared  for 
battLe.  Forty  or  fifty  mounted  Indians  made  pursuit  and 
heavy  skirmishing  ensued,  until  icr.r  cr  live  warriors  had 
beien  tumbled  from  their  horses.  Ihey  dre,\v  ,off  until  re- 
inforced by  about  as  many  more  who,  however,  made  no 
attack,  but  traveled  parallel  with  the  retreating  party,  oc- 
casionally showing  themselv,es,  till  thic  sun  went  down. 
But  all  tliis  time  the  horses  had  been  pushed  in  a  gallop, 
and  rendered  too  tired  to  be  easily  stampeded  at  night — 
the  forLoin  hope  of  the  enemj." 

Thus  the  retreat  continued  by  day  and  night,  till  the 
party  arrived  at  Gonzale,s  in  January,  1829,  with  the  booty 
• — some  500  head  of  horses — which  w.cre  equally  divided 
among  the  captors. 

Ca^t.  Brown  died  at  Columbia,  Texas,  July  26,  1834, 
and  rests  from  his  toils  within  a  few  feet  of  Josiah  H. 
Bell,  and  the     once  noted     Capt.  Bird  Lockhart. 


MURDER  OF  ELIJAH  ROARK. 

Among  other  early  and  v/orthy  colonists  on  the  Brazos 
was  Elijah  Roark,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  who  removed 
with  his  family  "in  a  large  wagon  dravxu  by  six  mules"  and 
settled  on  Oyster  Creek,  in  1824. 

Frugal  and  industrious,  Jiis  efiorts  were  scon  rewarded 
with  crcp  yields  and  an  increasirg  stock  of  cattle,  hogs, 
•etc.  At  that  time  San  Antonio,  some  230  miles  distant,  with 
but  two  small  settlements  en  route.^at  the  crossing  of  the 
Colorado,  and  at  Gonzales,— was  the  nearest  and  in  fad, 
the  only  market  in  Texas.  About  the  10th.  of  December, 
1829,  Mr.  Roark,  with  one  man  and  his  little  son,  Leo,  left  on 
his  annual  market  ,trip  with  about  100  fat  ihogs  and  a  wag- 
on load  cf  butter,  chees-e,  baccn,  lard,  soap,  candles  and  va- 
rious other  things,  which  they  expected  to  exchange  for  dry 
gccc's,  coffee,  sugar,  salt  and  other  family  supplies. 

Traveling  slew  to'  avoid;  fatigu,e  of  the  porkers,  the  lit- 
tle pajly  reached  the  "Forty  IMile  Water  Hole" — that  dis- 
tance short  of  San  Antonio — where  they  camped     for     the 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  61 

night  of  De<;.  24,  little  think  iixg  of  the  fate  that  was  so 
soon  to  befall  them.  After  supp-er  and  a  pleasant  converse 
on  former  Yule-tide  pleasures,  the  usual  preparations  wer^ 
made  for  the  night — intending  an  early  morning  Sitart.  We 
give  the  sad  sequel  as  told  by  Leo  Roark  himself:  "One  man 
■was  to  keep  guard  while  the  other  two  slept.  Father  kept 
the  first  watch,  and  the  other  man  the  second.  I  went  on 
guard  about  two  o'cloek,  putting  on  my  shoes  and  hat.  The 
weather  had  been  very  warm,  but  v/hile  I  was  sitting  by 
the  camp  fire,  the  wind  began  to  blow  fro.m  the  north.  It 
was  getting  cold,  so  I  put  on  my  coat,  took  my  gun  and 
kni^'e,  and  walked  a  short  distance.  There  was  a  large  log 
near  the  road  about  100  yards  from  the  cam,p.  Father  told 
me  I  must  walk  past  the  log  and  turn  back.  I  got  to  the 
log  and  was  afraid  to  pass  it.  I  thought  I  w^ould  go  back 
and  wake  Father.  The  mules  were  staked  near,  and  they 
were  so  restless  I  knew  there  was  something  wrong.  Be- 
fore I  got  back  the  Indians  surrounded  the  camp.  I  shot 
at  them  and  this  woke  the  men.  They  did  not  get  on  their 
feet  before  they  were  murdered.  I  tried  to  catch  a  mule 
that  was  tied  to  a  stake,  but  could  not  get  near  the  mule. 
I  laid  down  my  gun  and  tried  to  ciU  the  rcpe,  but  could 
net  £s  the  Indians  were  so  near  I  bad  to  run.  I  lost  my 
hat,  knife  and  gun.  I  was  west  ef  the  camp  and  knew  the 
Avay  to  San  Antonio.  Leaving  the  road,  I  ran  into  the  mes- 
quite  tbickets  and  did  not  look  back  rcr  stop  to  rest  till 
daylight.  Being  very  thirsty  I  could  find  no  water,  but  ate 
mesquite  beans.  I  traveled  ai^  day  and  late  in  the  evening 
^ound  water.  Here  I  rested  a  few  moments,  but  was  afraid 
to  lay  down  as  I  was  so  tired  and  sleepy.  With  much  ef- 
fort I  continued  my  journey  and  arrived  in  San  Antonio 
^•^te  in  the  night.  The  Mexicans  were  celebrating  Christ- 
mas. Next  day  I  got  assistance  and  returned  to  bury  my 
father.  Arriving  at  the  camp  it  was  a  horrblie  sight,  both 
men  stripped  and  scalped,  the  wagon  burned,  the  mules 
•carried  off,  and  everything  taken  or  destroyed. 

"After  burying  the  dead,    we  built  a  log  x>en  over  the 
graves  to  prevent  the  wolves  from,     digging   them   up — the 


62  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Liiming  of  the  wagon  scared  the  wolves     away,     or     they 
would  have  devoured  the  bodies." 

It  was  three  moutlis  before  Leo  returned  hoime — witb.  a 
company  of  Mexican  soldiers  on  their  way  t«-  Nacog- 
doches. The  fajnily  did  not  hear  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Roark 
and  companion  till  then.  'The  news  was  a  great  shock, 
and  a  source  of  sorrow  to  all  th-e  neighborhood. 

Brow^n's  "narrative  of  this  affair — ^History  of  Texas, 
Vol.  1,  pp.  159-61 — while  supplying  some  important  details, 
is  difficult  to  reconcile  with  the  above  absolutely  reliable 
account,  and  is  evidently  erroneous.  Leo  Roark 's  state- 
ment, wliich  we  have  followed,  was  copied  from  the  journal 
of  Dr.  Pleasant  W.  Rose,  as  written  therein  under  date  of 
January,  1834,  Dr  Rose's  daughter,  iVIrs.  Dilue  Harris,  in 
her  reminiscences,  based  on  this  journal,  says:  "Mrs. 
Roark  was  a  widow  four  years,  and  had  a  large  family,  two 
grown  sons,  twin  daughters,  one  daughter  grown,  two  lit- 
tle children,  a  boy  named  Andrew,  and  a  girl  born  several 
months  after  tbe  deatJi  of  the  father.  I  lived  by  the  Roarks 
three  years,  and  went  to  school  witJi  the  two  brothers,  Jack- 
son and  Leo.  Mrs.  Roark  could  not  talk  about  the  death  of 
ber  husband,  but  her  son,  Leo,  ,t)ften  spoke  about  it;  re- 
membering the  horrible  scene  he  passed  throujgb  during  that 
eventful  Christmas." 

Brown's  narrative  cannot  be  correct.  He  says  Robert 
Spears  and  Andrew  Cox  were  killed,  and  that  David  Mc- 
Cormick  escaped  ard  rode  with  Leo  to  San  Antonio.  Bea- 
ton was  from  the  Colorado,  and  was  killed  by  Indians — per- 
haps about  the  same  time  Roark  was  murdered.  McCormick 
was  probably  in  San  Aatonio  when  Leo  arrived  there.  At 
that  time  it  was  almost  impossible  to  get  correct  news.  It 
would  be  months  before  events  happening  near  San  Anto- 
X'io  would  be  heard  at  Brazoria. 

Season's  father  settled  wbere  the  town  of  Columbia 
now  stands.  The  place  was  called  Beason's  Ferry.  Santa 
Anna  with,  his  forces  crossed  the  Colorado  at  Beason's  in 
1836. 

Of  the  brave  boy,  Leo,  it  may  be  said  he  lived  to  parti- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 


^3 


■cipat*  in  several  Indian  fights,  and  o.ther  stirring  events  af 
our  history;  the  affair  at  Aiiahii,ac  in  1832;  the  battl«8 
around  San  Antonio  in  1835,  and  in  the  battle  of  San  Ja- 
cinto. He  married  a  Miss  Pevyhouse,  and  reared  a  large 
and  respectable  family.  In  1893,  sixty  three  years  after 
ihe  awful  tragedy  of  that  eventful  Christmas  night,  this 
venera>ble  pioneer  died,  in  Ellis  County,  Texas,  full  of  yearss 
and  of  honors. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


HE  year  1830  marks  tlie  beginning  of     an 
important  era  in    the    political    history      of 
Texas.     Heretofore,  during  the  first  years 
of  colonial   existence,     the     American  set- 
tlers had  been  left  undisturbed  save  by  the 
hostile   tribes  of  Indians  who  had  constant- 
ly harassed  them  on  all  sides,  as  we  have 
seen.     But  much  vigilance   had  been   exer- 
cised by  Austin   and   other   empresarios   in 
repelling  and  punishing    the    savages;    and 
BOW  that  the  population  of  the  several  colonies  and  settle- 
ments  were   rapidly   increasing,  they     were     better  able  to 
cope  with  the  common  foe. 

But  now  it  was  that  another  and  most  serious  draw- 
back to  the  colonies  occurred.  Ever  jealous  of  their  grasp- 
iii^  neighbors  on  the  north,  and  presumably  fearing  a  too 
tapid  increase  in  the  American  population  of  coveted  Tex- 
as, on  April  the  6th.  of  this  year,  the  Mexican  Government, 
now  dictated  by  the  arrogant,  unprincipled  and  liberty 
hating  military  chieftain,  President  Ana-stasia  Busta-mente,  is- 
sued the  famous  and  infamous  decree — the  eleventh  article 
of  which  virtually  prohibited  further  immigration  into  Tex- 
&s  from  the  United  States. 


MIRABEAU    B.   LAMAR 


ALBERT   SIDNEY    JOHNSTON 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  65 

As  might  have  been  expected,  this  act  spread  gloom 
over  the  colonists,  many  of  v/hojn,  coming  in  advance,  had 
been  industriously  occupied  in  making  preparations  £or 
the  arrival,  and,  to  sor.e  degree,  the  comfort  of  others — 
in  many  instances  the  wife  and  children ;  and  coming  thus 
without  previous  notice  or  intimation,  ttere  was  no  time  to 
turn  back  or  to  warn  those  wlio  were  on  the  eve  of  moving, 
(ha.ving  perhaps,  sacrifieed  home  and  property),  of  the 
fate  that  awaited  them  on  their  arrival  at  the  border  line — 
garrofioned  with  Mexican  troops  to  prevent  their  further 
progress. 

To  humiliate  and  further  annoy  the  colonists,  nLore  than 
a  thousand  soldiers  were  sent  to  the  province,  and  distrib- 
uted at  such  points  as  their  services  might  be  needed  The 
greater  portion  of  these  soldiers,  it  is  said,  were  discharged 
convicts  and;  enlisted  vagabonds,  who  were  to  be  supiport- 
ed  by  the  money  collected  from  duties  and  by  colonial  tax- 
ation. Piedras,  as  ranking  officer,  with  320  men,  was  sta- 
tioned at  Nacogdoches,  to  prevent  further  emigration  from 
the  United.  States;  and;  this,  too,  at  the  time  when  Robert- 
son's Colony  was  settling  and  many  families  weire  enroute; 
Bradburn,  with  a  force  of  150  at  Anahuac;  Ugarteches, 
120  at  Velasco;  Col.  Bean,  with  a  force  at  Fort  Ter- 
an  on  the  Neehes,  as  Indian  agent  to  the  central  govern- 
ment— besides  the  forces  at  San  Antonio  and  Goliad. 

Bradburn  was  the  first  to  manifest  a  direct  hostile 
spirit.  Says  Thomas  Jefferson  Chambers:  "He  introduc- 
ed martial  law  for  the  citizens;  he  took  from  them  their 
property  without  their  consent  and  without  consideration; 
he  had  many  of  them  arrested,  and  imprisoned  in  the  fort 
of  Anahuac ;  and  his  troops,  who  were  guilty  of  roibbing  and 
stealing,  were  by  him.  protected  from  punishment."  But  it 
is  not  our  purpose  to  enter  into  a  discussion  or  review  of 
the  transpiring  and  approaching  events  of  our  political  his- 
tory a;t  this  period,  interesting  and  important  as  the  sub- 
ject may  be,  and  reference  is  made  thus  far  som?what  in- 
cidentally. 

Fortunately  for  the  colonists,  while  occupied  with  their 


66  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

internal  affairs,  the  Indians  at  this  date  appear  to  have 
been  less  troublesome — overi.^ed  for  the  time  perliaps,  by 
the  expeditions  of  Kuykendall  and  Brown,  the  previous 
^-ear.  Then,  too,  thie  Cherokees,  Wacos  and  Tehua^iaiias 
had  become  involved  in  a  serious  strife  among  themselves. 

The  trouble  encountered  by  one  of  these  bands,  enroute 
to  their  people  in  Texas^  and  while  temporarily  halting  on 
Red  River  in  the  winter  of  1828-29,  is  graphically  narrated 
by  John  Henry  Brown,  in  the  only  reliable  account  of  this  af 
fair — written  and  published  more  than  half  a  century  ago: 
"They  had  not  been  at  this  place  very  long  before  their 
village  was  discovered  by  a  party  of  Wacos,  en  a  robbing 
expedition  from  the  Brazos;  and  these  freebooters,  true  to 
their  instincts  from  time  immemmorial,  lay  concealed  till 
the  silent  midnight  hour,  and  then,  stealthily  enterin^g'  the 
herds  of  the  sleeping  Cherokees,  stampeded  their  horses, 
driving  off  a  large  number.  To  follow  them  was  labor  in 
vaini — ^but  to  quietly  forget  the  deed  was  not  the  maxim 
among  the  red  sons  of  Tennessee. 


RED  WARRIORS  IN    DEADLY  STRIFE. 

"A  council  was  held  and  the  m.atter  disicussed.  After 
the  opinions  of  the  warriors  had  been  given,  the  principal 
w.ar  chief  rose,  and  in  substance  said:  'My  brothers.  The 
wild  men  of  the  far  off  Brazos  have  eome  into  our  camp 
while  the  Cherokees  slept.  They  have  stolen  our  most 
useful  property.  Without  horses  we  are  poor,  and  cannot 
make  corn.  The  Cherokees  will  hasten  to  plant  their  corn 
for  ttiis  spring,  and  while  that  is  springing  from  the 
ground,  and  growing  under  the  Great  Spirit,  and  shall  be 
waving  around  our  women  and  children,  we  will  leave  some 
old  men  and  women  to  watch  it,  and  the  Cherokee  braves 
will  spring  upon  the  cunning  Wacos  of  the  Brazos  as  they 
sprang  upon  ns.' 

"The  corn  was  planted,  and  in  the  month  of  May,  1829, 
a  w,ar  party  of  fifty-five,  well  armed,  left  the     viDage     on 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  67 

foot  in  search  of  the  Wacos.  At  this  time  the  priDX-ipal  vil- 
lage of  the  Waeos,  was  on  the  bluff  where  the  beautiful 
city  of  Waco  now  greets  the  eye  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Brazos.  One  band  of  the  Tehuacana  ( Ta-wak-a-na  )  In- 
dians, who  liave  always  been  more  or  less  connected  with 
the  Wacos,  were  living  on  the  east  bank  of  th«  river,  three 
miles  below.  Both  bands  had  erected  rude  fortifications,  by 
scooping  up  the  earth  in  various  places  and  throwiEg  up  a 
circular  embankment  tJiree  or  four  feet  high,  the  remains  of 
which  still  are  to  be  seen.  Th,e  principal  work  of  this  kind 
at  the  Waco  village  occupied  a  natural  sink  in  the  surfaee. 
"The  Cherokees  struck  the  Brazos  above  the  village 
som^'  forty  miles,  and  traveled  downwards  until  they  dis- 
covered signs  of  the  proximity,  and  then  secreted  them- 
selves in  the  cedar  brake  till  night.  The  greater  portion 
•of  the  night  was  spent  in  examining  the  position,  through 
•experieneed  scouts.  Having  made  the  necessary  obser- 
vatioEs,  the  scouts  reported  near  daylight,  when  the  war 
thief  admonished  thejn  of  what  th-ey  had)  come  for — re- 
venge! Waco  scalps!  horses!  and  led  tJiem  forth  from  their 
hiding  place,  under  the  bank  of  the  river,  to  a  point  about 
four  hi;rdred  yards  from  the  wigwams  of  the  slumber- 
ing Waeos.  Here  they  halted  till  the  rays  of  light,  on  that 
lovely  May  morning,  began  to  gild  the  eastern  horizon. 
The  time  for  action  had  come.  Moving  with  the  noiseless, 
elastic  step  peculiar  to  the  sons  of  the  forest,  the  Chero- 
kees approached  the  camp.  But  a  solitary  Waco  was  aroused, 
and  was  collectiDg  the  remains  of  his  fire  of  the  previous 
niglit,  preparatory  to  his  morning  repast.  His  Indian  ear 
caugM  the  sounds  of  footsteps  on  the  brush,  a  glance  of  his 
lynx  eye  revealed  the  approaching  foe.  A  single  shrill  yell 
from  him,  which  echoed  far  and  near  through  the  Brazos 
forest,  brought  every  Waco  to  his  feet.  The  terrible  Chero- 
kee war-whoop  was  their  morning  greeting,  accompanied 
by  a  shov.er  of  leaden  rain.  But  though  surprised,  the 
Waccs  out  numbered  their  assailants  many  times,  their  wo- 
men axd  children  must  be  protected  or  sacrificed,  their 
ancient  home,  where  the  bones  of  their     fathers    had    been 


68  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

fcuricdi  for  ages,  was  assailed  by  unknown  intruders.  The 
chief  rallied  th.e  vrarriors,  and  made  a  stand,  the  fight  be- 
came general,  and  as  the  sun  aro&e  majestically  over  the 
towering  trees  of  the  east,  he  beheld  the  red  men  of  Tennes- 
see and  the  red  men  of  Texas  in  deadly  strife.  But  the 
bows  and  arrows  of  the  "Wacos  could  not  compete  with  the 
unerring  rifles  of  the  Cherokees.  The  Wacos  were  falling 
rapidly,  while  the  Cherokees  were  unharmed. 

"After  half  an  hour's  strife,  amid  y^ells  and  mutual 
imprecations,  the  Wacos  signalled  a  retreat,  and  they  fell 
back  in  confusion,  taking  refuge  in  the  fortified  sinkhole. 
Here,  though  hemmed  in,  they  were  quite  secure,  having  a 
great  advantage.  Indeed  they  could  kill  every  Cherokee 
who  might  peradventure,  risk  his  person  too  near  the  brink. 

"The  Cherokees  had  already  killed  many,  and  now 
held  a  council,  to  consider  what  they  should  do.  It  was 
proposed  by  one  brave  that  they  should  strip  to  a  state  of 
nature,  march  into  the  sink-hole  in  a  body,  fire  their  pieces, 
then  drop  them,  and  with  tomahawks  alone  endieavor  to-  kill 
■every  man,  woman  and  child  among  the  Wacos.  A  half 
breed  named  Smith,  who  was  in  favor  of  this  desperate 
measure,  as  an  incentive  to  his  comrades,  stripped  himself, 
fastened  a  dozen  horsebells  (which  he  had  picked  up  in 
camp)  around  his  waist,  and  commenced  galloping  and  yell- 
ing around  the  sink-hole,  now  and  then  jumping  on  the  em- 
bankment and  then  cursing  the  Wacos  lustily.  The  arrows 
were  hurled  at  him  by  the  score,  but  he  fell  not. 

"Just  as  the  Cherokee  council  was  coming  to  a  close, 
at  about  an  hour  after  sunrise,  they  heard  a  noise  like  dis- 
tant thunder  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  delayed 
a  few  moments  to  discover  its  cause.  Very  soon  they  dis- 
covered a  large  body  of  mounted  Indians  rising  the  river 
banks  a  little  below  them.  What  could  it  mean?  they 
murmured  one  to  another.  The  story  is  soon  told.  A 
messenger  had  rushed  from  the  Wacos  in  the  outset,  for 
the  Tehuacana  village,  begging  help,  and  now  two  hundred 
Tehuacana  warriors,  mounted  and  ready  for  the  fray,  were 
at  hard.     The   whole   aspect  of  the  day  was  changed  in  a 


BORDER  V/ARS  OF  TEXAS.  69 

moment.  To  conquer  this  combined  force  was  impossible — 
to  escape  themselves  would  require  prudence.  The  Tehua- 
caras,  in  comirg  up,  cut  off  a  Cherokee  boy,  twelve  years 
eld,  killed  and  scalped  him,  and  placed  his  scalp,  and  held 
it  up  defiantly  to  the  \iew  of  the  Cherokees.  The  boy  was 
an  only  child,  and  his  father  beheld  this  scene.  The  brave 
man's  eje  glared  with  fury.  Without  a  word  he  threw 
from  his  bccy  every  piece  of  his  apparel,  seized  a  knife  in. 
one  hand,  a  tomahawk  in  the  other.  'What  will  you?'  de- 
manded the  chief.  'Die  with  my  brave  boy.  Die  slaying 
the  wild  men  who  have  plucked  the  last  rose  from  my  bos- 
om!' The  chief  interceded  and  told  him  it  was  madness  ;^ 
the  Cherokee  listened  not ;  with  rapid  strides  he  rushed 
among  the  Tehuacanas,  upon  certain  death;  but  ere  death 
tad  seized  its  victim,  he  had  killed  several  and  died  shout- 
ing defiance  in  their  midst. 

"The  TcKuacanas  occupied  the  post  oaks  just  below  the. 
Cherokees,  and  kept  up  a  lusty  shouting,  but  ventured  not 
within  rifle  shot.  The  latter  seeing  that  on  an  open  field 
they  could  not  resist  such  numbers — having  taken  fifty-five 
Waco  scalps,  (equal  to  their  own  number)  and  having  lost 
two  men  and  the  boy — now^  fell  back  into  the  cedar  brake 
and  remained  there  till  night.  They  were  convinced  that 
their  safety  depended  upon  a  cautious  retreat,  for  if  sur- 
rounded on  the  prairie,  they  would  be  annihilated.  When 
night  came  on  they  crossed  the  river,  traveling  down  the 
eand  bank  a  mile  or  two,  as  if  they  were  going  down  the 
country,  thence,  turning  up  the  stream,  waded  up  the  edge' 
of  the  w^ater  some  six  or  seven  miles,  (the  river  being  low 
and  r€anarka;bly  even),  and  thus  eluded  pursuit.  In  due 
time  they  reached  their  Red  River  villages,  without  the 
thousand  horses  they  anticipated,  but  with  fifty -five  Waco, 
iiealps — glory  enough  in  their  estimation.  The  entire  band, 
•was  now  speedily  collected  and  amid  much  rejoicing  and 
■with  great  noise,  it  is  said,  indulged  in  one  of  the  grandest 
"war  dances  ever  witnessed  in  Texas."  ... 


70  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

THE    CHEROKEE   AND  TEHUACANA  FIGHT. 

**The  Cherokees,  it  seems,  did  not  forget  the  Tehuacanas, 
but  held  them  to  strict  account — determined  to  take  re- 
venge on  them  for  their  interference  in  the  engagement 
with  the  Wacos — as  the  sequel  will  show.  To  this  end  it  ap- 
pears, early  in  the  summer  of  1830,  they  armed  and  equipped 
one  huncied  and  twenty  cf  their  bravest  and  best 
fighters,  who  marched  upon  one  of  the  principal  villages 
of  the  enemy. 

"The  Tehuacanas,  like  the  "Waccs,  had  several  princi- 
pal villages,  favorite  resorts,  from  some  peiculiarity,  as  fine 
springs  of  water,  abundance  of  buffalo,  etc.  One  of  them, 
and  perhaps  their  most  esteemed  locality,  was  at  the  south- 
ern point  of  the  hills  of  the  same  name,  now  in  the  upper 
edge  of  Limestone  County.  Around  these  springs  there  is 
a,  large  amount  of  loose  limestone  on  the  surface,  as  well  as 
in  the  hills,  and  the  whole  surrounding  country  is  one  of 
rare  beauty  and  loveliness. 

"The  Tehuacanas  had  erected  several  small  enclosures 
of  these  loose  stones,  about  three  feet  high,  leaving  occas- 
ional spaces  some  two  feet  square,  resembling  the  mouths 
of  furnaces.  Over  the  tops  they  threw  poles  and  spread 
buffalo  hides,  and  when  attacked,  their  women,  old  men  and 
children,  would  seek  refuge  in  the  same,  and  lying  flat  on 
the  ground,  would  send  their  arrows  and  bullets  through 
these  apertures  whenever  an  enemy  came  in  range.  From 
the  attacks  of  small  arms,  such  a  protection,  however  primi- 
tive, was  generally  quite  effective. 

"This  party  of  Cherokees,  having  been  informed  of  the 
locality  of  this  place,  and  the  value  set  upon  it  by  the  Te- 
huacanas, and  knowing  that  it  was  a  considerable  distance 
from  the  Wacos,  determined  to  seek  it  out  and  tliere  wreak 
vengeance  upon  those  who  had  by  their  own  act  called 
forth  feelings  of  hostility.  Guided  by  an  Indian  who  had 
explored  the  country  as  a  trappper,  they  reached  the  place 
in  due  season.  When  discovered,  the  Tehuacanas  were  en- 
gaged at  a  play  of  ball    around  the  little  fort.    The  Chero- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  71 

kees  stripped  fcr  action  at  once,  while  the  ball  players, 
promptly  ceastd  that  amusement,  rushed  their  women  and 
children  into  the  retreats,  and  prepared  fcr  defense.  They 
had  quite  a  large  village,  and  outnumhered  the  Cherokees  in 
fighting  men. 

"A  random  fight  commenced,  the  Cherokees  using  the 
surroundirg  trees  as  protectiou,  and  takiug  the  matter  as 
a  business  transaction,  made  their  advances  from  tree  to 
tree  with  prudence.  Their  aim,  with  the  'rest'  against  the 
trees,  told  with  effect,  and  one  by  one,  notwithstanding 
their  hideous  yells  and  capering  to  and  fro,  the  Tehuaca- 
nas  were  biting  the  dust. 

"The  moment  one  was  wounded,  unless  a  very  brave  fel- 
low, he  w^ould  crawl  into  the  hiding  place  among  the  women 
and  children,  unless,  perchance,  on  his  way,  a  Cherokee 
ball  brought  him  t€  the  tjround 

"The  fight  continued  this  way  an  hcur  or  more,  when, 
upon  a  signal,  the  whole hody  retired  within  the  breastworks. 
At  this  time  the  Cherokees,  elated  by  what  they  supposed 
to  be  a  victory,  charged  upon  the  open  holes,  ringing  their 
victorious  war-v,hc€p  most  furiously.  But  they  were  soon 
convinced  that  though  concealed,  the  besieged  were  not 
powerkss,  for  here  they  received  a  shower  of  arrows  and 
balls  from  the  hidden  enemy  which  tumbled  several  of  their 
braves  alongside  of  those  they  killed  en  the  other  side.  Yet, 
excited  as  they  had  become,  they  were  not  easily  convinced 
that  prudence  in  that  case  was  the  better  part  of  valor.  On 
the  contrary,  they  maintained  the  unequal  contest  for  some 
time,   until    one    of   their    old  men  advised  a  talk. 

"They  withdrew  a  short  distance  and  held  a  consulta- 
tion. Their  leaders  said  they  had  come  there  for  revenge 
and  they  would  not  relinquish  their  design  so  long  as  a 
Cherokee  brave  was  left  to  fight — that  to  go  back  to  their 
people  and  report  a  'defeat,  would  disgrace  them — they 
would  die  en  the  field  rather  than  beiir  such  tidings. 
'Where  there's  a  will,  there's  a  way'  is  a  trite  old  adage, 
and  at  this  juncture  of  affairs,  it  was  verified  .by  the  Chero- 
kees,    The  eld  man  who  had  advised  the  'talk.'  now  made 


72  ,         BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

a  s"uggesticii,  which  was  seconded  by  all.  He  proposed  that 
a  party  should  be  sent  off  a  short  distance  to  cut  dry  grass 
and  bring  a  load';  that  nuen,  loaded  with  this  material,  should 
cautiously  approach  each  hole  in  the  breastworks,  fromi  the 
sides,  using  the  grass  as  a  shield  on  the  way;  that  the  door 
hoks  f^hculd  be  stopped  up  with  it,  (with  new  supplies  con- 
stantly arriving),  and  set  on  fire,  by  which  very  simple  pro- 
cess the  inmates  would  be  suffocated  or  compelled,  to  throw 
off   the   hides   and  leap  out,  breathless  and  more      or    less 
blinded  through  the  smoke,  while  the  Cherokees,     stationed 
around  in  circles,  would,  have  an  easy    time    in  butchering 
their  astonished  red  brethren.     This  was  a  rich  idiea  and.  de- 
lighted    with     the     anticipated    fun    on  their    part,     and 
misery    among   their    enemies,  the  Cherokees  speedily  made 
all  their  arrangements  and  disposed  of  their  fighting  men 
to  the  best  advantage.    The  grass  was  placed     in     the     re- 
quired position,  and  at  the  same  moment,  set  on  fire.     For 
a  moment  or  two  no  response  was  heard  fiHjm  within;  but 
very  soon  the  smoke  was  seen  escaping    through    the    rocks 
and  from  under  the  skins,  proving  that  each   little     refug« 
was  full  of  the  strangulating  exhalation.     To  endure  such 
a  torture  long,  was  beyond  human  power;  and     in     a  little 
while    a    dolefuL   howl  issued  forth,  followed  by  a  signifi- 
cant upheaving  of  the  buffalo-skin  roofs,  and  a  rush  of  the 
gasping   victims,   blinded   by  smoke,  leaping  over  the  walls, 
they  knew  not  where.     To  render  the  picture  more  appal- 
ling, the  exulting  Cherokees  S;  t  up  a  terrible  yeDing,  and 
dealt  death  to  the  doomed  creatures  with  their  guns,  toma- 
hawks and  scalping  knives  until  all  were  slain,  or  had  made 
their  escape  from  the  dreadful  sacrifice  by  headlong  flight. 
Quite  a  number  of  squaws  and  children,  and  perhaps  a    few 
men,  had  been  unable  to  rise,  and  died  from       suffocation 
inside  the  w'orks." 

And  thus  ended  this  tragic  scene  in  the  course  of  our 
Indian  warfare.  Comparatively  few  of  the'Tehuacanas  es- 
caped. The  surviving  women  and  children  were  preserved 
prisoners,  and  a  considerable  number  of  horses,  blankets, 
skir.R,  and  indeed  the  entire  tauip   equipage,  fell   into   the 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  73 

hands  of  the  victors,  who  returned  to  their  people  on  Red 
River  in  triumph,  displaying  not  only  their  booty,  but  a 
large  number  of  the  greatest  of  all  Indian  symbols  of 
gloiy,  scalps. 

While  no  serious  troubles  from  Indians  appear  to  have 
been  committed  during  this  and  the  succeeding  year  or 
two,  the  isolated  and.  extreme  border  settlers  suffered  froiu 
occasional   thieving  forays   of  tlie  Wacos  and  Tahuacanas. 

In  November,  a  party  of  eleven  Wacos  entered  the 
settlements  some  twenty  miles  west  of  San  Felipe.  They 
were  on  foot,  and  w^U  supplied  with  ropes  and  bridles.  -A 
party  consisting  of  Adam  Lawrence,  Thomas  Stevens, 
Abner  Kuykendall,  Charles  Gates,  B.  Kuykendall,  George 
Ecbinson,  William  Cooper  and  five  others,  were  soon  col- 
kcted  to  intercept  the  Indians.  Discovering  them  camped  near 
the  house  of  John  Stevens,  on  Caney  Creek,  the  Bettlers 
inad€  a  surprise  attack  at  dawn. 

"Favored  by  a  gully  and  a  dense  fog,  we  approach^ 
within  thirty  feet  of  the  Indians  (part  of  whom  had  not  yet 
risen),  before  they  perceived  us,  at  which  moment  we  de- 
livered cur  fire."  As  the  Indians  fled  one  of  them  shot 
William  Cooper  through  the  l^eart,  killing  him  instantly. 
This  caused  considerable  confusion  and  delay  on  the  patt 
of  the  settlers.  ''Late  in  the  morning,"  says  Kuykendall, 
"the  trail  of  the  Indians  was  followed  as  far  as  the  bottom 
of  Caney  Creek,  five  or  six  hundred  yards,  some  red  strips 
marked  their  course  across  the  prairie  and  two  or  thre€ 
conical  shaped  pieces  of  rotton  wood,  with  which  these  In- 
dians are  generally  provided,  to  plug  their  wounds,  were 
picked  up  on  the  trail,  saturated  with  blood."  The  carcass 
of  one  of  these  Indians  was  found  in  the  bottom,  and  from 
the  Mexicans  at  Tenoxtitlan,  some  two  weeks  later,  it  was 
learned  that  seven  of  them  died  from  their  wounds  before 
reaching  their  homes. 

1831 — Despite  the  prohibitory  decree  of  the  previous  year 
and  the  forebodings  of  political  troubles,  the  American 
population  of  Texas  continued  to  increase — numbering  abotit 
twenty   thousand.     The  most  part  of  these    prohibited  •  .emi- 


74  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

grants  came,  however,  under  the  general  prvovisions  of  the 
law,  on  th^ir  own  account,  halting  east  of  the  Trinity,  where 
they  fixed  homes. 

Having  designated  their  lands,  these  settlers  were  an- 
xious for  legal  possession,  and,  to  that  end,  "in  1831  the 
Governor  of  the  State  had  commmissioned  Don  Francisco 
Madero  as  commissioner  to  issue  titles  to  the  settlers  on. 
and  near  the  region  of  Liberty."  Justly  exercising  the 
authority  of  his  position,  and  most  gratifying  to  the  people 
of  that  section,  Madero  created  he  municipatlity  of  Liber- 
ty, appointing  Hugh  B.  Johnson  as  Alcalde. 

But  for  this,  the  Commissioner  was  arrested  and  im- 
prisoned, the  Alcalde  removed  and  the  municipality  of 
"Libertad"  dissolved — a  new  Ayuntamiento  being  set  up 
by  the  despotic  and  obdurate  military  satrap,  Bradburn, 
with  its  seat  at  Anahuac  under  his  immediate  surveillance. 
Thus  far,  this  suffices  to  show  the  general  trendi  of  the 
€vents  transpiring  in,  and  most  affecting,  the  colonies. 

Fortunate  for  the  otherwise  vexed  colonists,  no  serious 
depredaticns  by  Indians  appear  to  have  been  committed  at 
this  time.  However,  the  year  1831,  says  Yoakum,  did  not 
pass  away  without  being  witness  to  a  battle,  which,  consid- 
ering the  number  engaged  and  its  results,  was  the  hardest 
contested  field  in  'Texas. 

One  of  the  early  and  unique  pioneer  characters  of  Tex- 
as, was  Caiaphas  K.  Ham,  born  in  the  year  1803.  He  was 
an  intimate  friend  and  associate  of  the  Bowies  in  Louisiana, 
and  came  to  Texas  in  1830,  residing  with  Colonel  James 
Bowie  and  his  beautiful  Spanish  wife — the  daughter  of  Vice 
Governor  Veramendi — at  the  Mission  of  San  Jose,  on  the 
San  Antonio  River  some  four  miles  below  the  city. 

Scon  after  his  arrival  in  Texas,  Mr.  Ham  decided  to 
join  the  Comanche  Indians  for  the  purpose  of  buying  horses 
for  tl-e  Louisiana  market.  At  that  tinve,  1830,  this  tribe 
was  at  peace  with  the  Texans.  "Being  in  San  Antonio 
f roquenitly, " isays  Ham's  narrative,  "on  almost  every  occa- 
sion I  saw  parties  of  Comanche  Indians  who  came  in  to 
trade.     My   desire   was  to   know  something  of  them  and  the 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  75 

country  they  wandered  over.  Cclcnel  Bowie  at  first  op- 
posed the  scheme,  but  finding  I  was  determined,  he  assisted 
me  in  getting  things  in  goad  shape.  A  Comanche  chief 
named  Incorroy,  came  in.  An  interpreter  was  employed 
and  a  treaty  made.  I  was  adopted  into  the  chief's  family, 
with  an  assurance  that  I  could  return  to  the  whites  when- 
ever I  chose.  A  supply  of  powder,  balls,  butcher  knives 
and  brass  rings,  was  laid  in."  The  object  in  adverting  to 
this  freak  will  be  seen  farther  on,  when  it  will  be  discover- 
ed that  this  trading  expedition  had  an  important  bearing 
upon  an  affair  affecting  Colonel  Bowie. 

"We  left  San  Antonio,"  continues  Ham's  narrative, 
"and  started  for  the  chief's  camp.  I  had  no  care  on  my 
mind;  in  the  morning  I  saddled  one  horse  and  packed  anoth- 
er— the  latter  being  turned  over  to  the  care  of  my  Indian 
mama. 

"About  this  time  a  party  of  Wacos  were  encamped 
near  us.  They  wanted  to  trade,  and  had  good  horses.  In- 
corroy instructed  me  how  to  trade — I  gave  one  pint  of  pow- 
der, eight  balls,  one  plug  of  tobacco,  one  butcher  knife, 
and  two  brass  rings,  for  a  horse." 

After  some  five  months,  Ham  received  a  message 
from  Colonel  Bowie  advising  him  to  return  to  San  Antonio 
at  once,  as  the  Mexican  Government  was  preparing  to  make 
war  upon  the  Indian  tribes;  and  that  if  found  among  the 
Comanches  he  would  be  killed  with  them.  During  his  stay 
with  the  Indians,  Ham  had  gained  their  friendship  com- 
pletely, and  had  himself  become  attached  to  his  red  friends. 
When  he  left  the  chief,  twenty-five  warriors  escorted  him 
to  San  Antonio.  Mr.  Ham  was  convinced  that  the  real  mo- 
tive for  his  recall  from  the  Indians  was  an  intention  on  the 
part  of  the  Bowies  to  re-visit  the  celebrated  silver  mine  near 
Sasn  Saba,  which  had  been  discovered,  and  partially  examin- 
ed by  Bowie,  it  appears,  siome  time  previous  to  1831. 

The  shaft  was  about  eight  feet  deep ;  the  bottom  was 
reached  by  means  of  steps  cut  in  a  live  oak  log.  Bowie 
used  his  tomahawk  in  getting  possession  of  some  of  the  ore; 
which  he  carried  to  New  Orleans,  had    it    assayed,    and  it 


76  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

"paEEed  cut"  rich.  He  soon  retiuxcd  to  San  Antonio  and 
quietlyi  set  about  organizing  a  select  little  party  to  revisit 
and  examine  the  mine.  Mr.  Ham  was  one  of  the  party  se- 
le«t€d. 

These  facts  are  deemed  permissible  in  this  connection  as 
shedding  some  light  on  the  thrilling  episode  to  follow. 


BOWIE'S  FAMOUS  INDIAN  FIGHT. 

Perhaps  the  celebrated  engagement  known  as  "Bowie's 
Indian  Fight"  is  without  a  parallel  on  this  continent;  cer- 
tainly a  more  skillful  and  heroic  defense  against  such  fear- 
ful odds  was  never  made    on  Texas  soil. 

Organized,  equipped  and  led  by  the  Bowie  brothers,  the 
little  exploring  party  consisting  of  Rezin  P.  and  James 
Bowie,  David  Buchanan,  Robert  Armstrong,  Jesse  Wallaee, 
Matthew  Doyle,  Thomas  McCaslin,  C.  K.  Ham,  James  Cor- 
yell, (for  whom  Coryell  county  was  named),  and  two  ser- 
vant boys,  Charles,  a  negro,  and  Gonzales,  a  Mexican,  set 
out  from  San  Antonio  on  November  2,  1S31,  to  locate  and 
re-open  tbe  long  abandoned  and  lost  silver  mines  of  Alma- 
gres,  SOMEWHERE,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  San  Saba 
Mission.  The  secret  of  the  location  of  this  celebrated  and 
rich  silver  mine  was  well  guarded  by  the  Indians,  who 
wished  to  prevent  another  influx  of  miners  and  adventurers 
into  their  hunting  grounds — a  condition  that  brought 
about  the  fate  of  the  San  Saba  Mission,  when  its  inmates, 
the  miners,  and  people  there  congregated,  were  suddenly 
fell  upon  and  all  massacred  by  the  incensed  Indians  in  1758. 

The  little  party  traveled  out  and  met  with  no  adven- 
ture of  note  until  the  19th,  when  they  were  overtaken  by  a 
party  of  friendly  Comanches,  who  informed  Bowie  that  a 
large  body  of  hostile  Indians  were  on  his  trail  swearing 
that  they  would  take  the  scalp  of  every  white  man  in  the 
party.  The  hostile  Indians  were  tlie  Tehuaeanas,  Waeos 
and  Cadd'os,  numberiing  1G4  well  armed'  braves.  They 
•were  too  strong  for  Bowie  to  risk  a  figlit,  and.!  even 
■when  the   Comanche  chief   offered  to  join  Bowie  with  has 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXxVS.  77 

band  of  sixteen  men,  the  odds  were  so   fearful   that  Bowie 
declined  the  generous  offer  and  pressed  forward  with  the 
intention  of  reaching  the  old  fort   on  the   San  Saba  before 
night.    But  the  Texans  soon  struck     a     rocky     road,     and 
their  horses'  feet  were  so  worn    and    sore    that    they  were 
compelled  to  step  for  the   night  in  a  small     grove  of  live 
oaks.     This  grove  was  in  an  open  prairie,  interspersed  with 
rocks  and  clumps  of  trees.     Near   it,   on  the  west,   was  a 
stream  of  water,  and  on  the  north,  a  thicket  of  small  trees 
about  ten  feet  high.     Into  this  thicket,  and  through  prick- 
ly pears,  the  Texans  cut  a  road,  in  order  that  they     might 
he  prepared  for  defense  in  case  of  an  attack  by  the  Indians. 
They  then  posted  sentries  and  hobbled    their    horses,     but 
they  were  not  molested  until  the  next  morning,  when  they 
discovered  Indians  on  their  trail  before     they     could     get 
ready  to  depart  for  the  fort.    One  of  th»e  Indians  was  some 
distance  in  advance  of  his  comrades.     He  was  on  foot  with 
his  head  to  the  ground,  following  the  trail  of  the  Texans. 
Bowie  and  his  men  fkw  to  arms.    The  red  men  gave  aloud 
warwhccp  and  began  their  preparations     for     an     attack. 
"While  some  of  the  bucks  on  horseback  were    reconnoitering 
the  ground,  the  Texans  decided,  on  account  of  the  fearful 
odds,  against  them — 164  to  11 — to  avoid,  if  possible,  a  fight 
«o  unequal  and  desperate.     It  was  agreed  that  Rezin  Bowie 
ehould  go  out  and  parley  with  the  Indians  and  try  to  make 
terms  of  peace.    He  went,  accompanied  by  David  Buchan- 
an.    They  walked  to   within  forty  yards    of    the     enemy's 
line  and  invited  the  Indians  to  send  out  their  chief,  so  that 
they  could  have  a  talk  with  him.     The   Indians   who     had 
been    addrCiSsed     in    their    own     tongue    replied    with     a 
•**How    do!    How    do!"    followed    by    a    volley    of    rifle 
shots,    one     of    which    wounded     Buchanan     in     the     leg. 
Bowie     replied     with     the     contents    of    his    double    bar- 
reled shot   gun,   and  pistol,   then  taking  his  wounded  com- 
rade on  his  back,  started  for  the  camp.     The  Indians  fired 
another  volley,  and  Buchanan  was  wounded     twice     more, 
but  not  mortally.     The  savages    then    pursued    with    toma- 
hawks and  were  close  upon  Bowie  and     his     unfortunate 


78  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

companion,  when  the  Texans  charged  them  with  rifles,  kill- 
ing four  and  putting  th€  others  to  flight.  Bowie  and  his 
men  then  returned  to  their  positions  and  for  five  minutes 
all  was  quiet. 

Then  there  came  fierce  yells  from  a  hill  red  with  In- 
dians, and  so  near  that  the  Texans  could  hear  the  voice 
of  the  chief  as  he  urged  his  men  to  charge.  "Who  is  load- 
ed?" cried  the  Texan  leader.  "I  am,"  answered  Cephas 
Ham.  "Then  shoot  that  chief,"  said  Bowie,  and  Haim 
fired,  breaking  the  leg  of  the  Indian  and  killing  his  pony. 
As  the  wounded  chief  went  hopping  around  his  horse,  four 
of  the  Texans,  who  had  reloaded,  fired,  and  he  fell.  Sev- 
eral of  his  men,  who  advanced  to  bear  his  body  away,  were 
killed,  and  the  whiole  band  fell  back  beyond  the  hill.  But 
they  soon  covered  the  hill  again,  bringing  up  their  women, 
and  there  was  rapid  firing  on  both  sides.  Another  chief, 
advancing  on  horseback  and  urging  his  men  forward,  was 
killed  by  James  Bowie.  Meanwhile  a  number  of  the  In- 
dians succeeded  in  getting  under  the  creek  bank  in  the  rear 
of  the  Texans.  They  opened  fire  at  forty  yards  distance 
and  Matthew  Doyle  w^as  shot  through  the  breast,  and  Thom- 
as McCaslin,  running  forward  to  avenge  him,  was  shot 
through  the  body.  The  firing  then  became  general  from 
all  quarters  and  the  Texans,  finding  themselves  too  much 
exposed,  retreated  to  the  thicket,  where  they  were  in  point 
blank  range  of  the  riflemen  under  the  creek  bank  and  soon 
dislodged  them. 

In  the  thicket  the  Texans  wer'C  not  only  well  screen- 
ed, but  had  a  clear  view  of  the  Indians  on  the  prairie. 
Th'Cy  baffled  the  savages  in  their  shots,  by  moving  six 
or  eight  feet  the  moment  they  fired,  for  the  only  mark  for 
the  red  men  was  the  smoke  o^  the  Texans'  guns,  and  they 
would  immediately  put  a  shower  of  balls  on  the  spot  where 
they  saw  the  smoke. 

After  the  fight  had  continued  in  this  way  for  two 
hours,  the  Indians  saw  that  they  could  not  dislodge  the 
Texans  with  bullets,  and  they  resorted  to  fire.  By  this 
they  expected  to  rout  the  little  party  and  secure  an  oppor- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  79 

tunity  of  carrying  off  th^eir  dead  and  wounded  under  cov- 
€r  of  the  smoke,  for  the  rifles  of  the  rangers  had  brought 
down  several  at  every  round.  They  set  fire  to  the  dry  grass 
to  the  windward  of  the  thicket.  The  flamie®  SK>ared  hi^h 
and  rushed  forward  with  great  fury.  The  Texans  cleared 
away  the  grass  around  their  wounded  comrades  and  made 
whatever  barriers  they  could  against  the  flames  by  piling 
up  rock  and  bushes  to  make  a  flimsy  breastwork.  Mean- 
while the  Indians,  who  had  succeeded  in  carrying  off  their 
dead  and  wounded  under  cover  of  the  smoke,  returned 
again  to  the  attack.  The  wind  suddenly  shifted  to  the 
north  and  the  red  men  quick  to  see  the  advantage  it  gave 
them,  seized  their  chance  and  again  set  fire  to  the  grass. 
The  flames  went  roaring  ten  feet  high  toward  the  thicket, 
while  the  shouts  and  yells  of  the  savages  rent  the  air. 

This  was  the  critical  moment  in  the  fight.  The  sparks 
began  to  fly  so  fast  that  no  man  could  open  his  powder 
horn  without  danger  of  being  blown  to  pieces.  In  case  the 
Indians  should  make  a  charge  under  cover  of  the  smoke, 
which  was  expected,  they  could  give  only  one  effectual 
fire  and  then  rely  on  their  knives.  Besides,  there  was  great 
danger  from  the  flames,  but  as  they  came  to  the  edge  of 
the  cleared  space  around  the  wounded,  those  stalwart  men 
smothered  them  with  buffalo  hides,  bear  skins  and  blank- 
ets. 

The  savages  did  not  charge,  but  the  fire  left  so  little  of 
the  thicket  that  the  'Texans  took  refuge  in  the  ring  they  had 
made  around  the  wounded,  and  began  raising  their  breast- 
works higher  with  earth  and  loose  rocks.  The  Indians,  who 
succeeded  in  removing  their  dead  and  wounded  from  the 
field  under  cover  of  the  smoke,  seeing  the  Texans  were 
still  alive  and  dangerous,  became  discouraged,  and  as 
night  approached,  retired  from  the  field. 

The  Texans  strengthened  their  breastworks  and  filled 
their  vessels  and  skins  with  water  and  awaited  the  attack 
which  they  expected  the  following  morning.  All  night 
they  heard  the  savages  wailing  over  their  dead  and  at  day- 
light they  shot  a  chief  who  was  mortally  wounded,  which 


80  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

was  according  to  the  custom  o*^  their  tribe.  They  did  not 
Kenew  the  attack  th«  next  morning,  but  went  to  a  cava 
about  a  mile  away  for  shelter  and  to  bury  their  dead.  Two 
©^  the  rangers  ventured  out  of  the  little  fort  and  went  to 
the  place  where  the  Indians  had  spent  th«  night.  There 
they  counted  forty-eight  bloody  places  on  the  ground  where 
the  dead  and  wounded  Indians  had  been  laid  as  they  were 
brought  from  the  battlefield. 

-  According  to  the  best  authorities,  it  is  estimated  that 
the  Indians  had  eighty  odd  killed  and  wounded.  The  In- 
dians themselves  admitted  they  had  52  killed,  and  half  as 
many  wounded.  The  Texans  lost  one  killed  and  had  three 
wounded.  The  little  party  remained  in  their  rudely  forti- 
fied camp  for  eight  days  after  the  fight,  attending  their 
wx>unded,  and  watching  for  an  opportunity  to  slip  away 
and  elude  pursuit.  The  homeward  journey  consumed  ten 
days.  The  manner  of  their  reception  is  thus  pathetically 
told  by  one  of  their  number — Mr.  Ham. 

"The  Cotwanches,  believing  it  impossible  for  eleven 
men  to  defend  themselves  successfully  against  the  fearful 
©dds  of  fifteen  to  one,  went  into  San  Antonio  and  reported 
the  almost  certain  death  of  Bo^v^e  and  his  party.  It  was 
the  general  opinion  that  the  explorers  had  been  massacred. 
Stephen  Bowie  had  arrived  in  Texas  and  accepted  the  re- 
port as  true.  He  was  raising  a  company  to  avenge  the 
sanguinary  murder  of  his  two  brothers.  The  shades  of  night 
had  fallen  on  the  city.  Sad  hearts  were  bewailing  the  fate 
oi  the  adventurous  Americans.  A  party  of  men,  mostly  on 
foK)t,  weary  and  soiled  by  travel,  entered  the  streets  of  the 
Queen  City  of  the  West.  Some  of  th€  men  were  recog- 
nized. A  shout  went  up ;  it  was  repeated,  it  spread  from 
street  to  street,  from  house  to  house.  Stout  men  quivered 
with  excitem^ent,  tears  of  joy  dimmed  bright  eyes.  Fear- 
less men  rushed  forward  to  grasp  in  friendship  and  admira- 
tion, the  hands  of  citizens  who  had  proved  themselves 
heroes  in  a  contest  demanding  courage,  prudence,  endurance 
and  all  the  noble  qualities  adorning  the  soldier  and  the 
patriot.       'Bowie's  party  have  returned!     They  have   won 


1.     Wm.  A.  A.  "Big  Foot"  Wallace 
3.    "Ran"  Foster,  The  Hunter 


2.     Samuel  M.  Williams 
4.     MoBCB  Austin,  Father  of  Stephen  F.  Austin 


1.     Judge  O.  L.  Tyler 

3.     Hon.  W.  L.  Davidson 


2.     Capt.  John  Harvey 
4.     Col.  Wm.  F.  Henderson 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  81 

a  glorious  victory!'  was  the  cry.  House  to  house  was  illu- 
minated. The  people  in  their  heart  of  hearts  decreed  them 
a  triumph.  And  well  they  deserved  it.  The  pages  of  his- 
tory record  but  few  such  achievements.  It  stands  almost 
alone  upon  the  scenic  walls  of  Fame's  grand  temple.  The 
valorous  men  who  braved  their  breasts  to  the  assaults  of  a 
savage  enemy  in  overwhelming  numbers,  who  fought  with- 
out fear  and  without  hope,  and  rolled  back  the  tide  of  bar- 
baric aggression,*  should  be  remembered  and  honored  as 
long  as  civilization  endures  and  gratitude  has  a  place  in 
the  human  heart."  (Unpublished  memoirs  of  Col.  John  S. 
Ford.) 

Ere  LoDg,  nothing  daunting  the  brave  Bowies,  they 
determined  t€  again  seek,  and  yet  possess,  the  coveted 
treasure;  acd  to  this  end,  we  are  told,  they  organized  and 
equipped  a,  second,  and  more  formidable  expeditio-n,  of  some 
thirty  men,  which  was  well  nigh  starting  when  the  Texas 
war  for  independence  opened :  and,  true  to  their  patriotic 
promptings,  the  Bowie  brothers  were  among  the  first  to 
heed  the  call  to  arms.  They  hastened  to  Gonzales,  led  at 
Conception,  and  were  among  the  first  to  respond  to  the 
cry,  "Who  will  follow  old  Ben  Milam  into  San  Antonio?" 
Three  months  later  James  Bowie  fell  in  the  Alamo,  be- 
queathiug  his  name  and  heroism  to  all  suicceedimg  genera- 
tions of  Texans;  while  Rezim  P.  Bowie,  mourniug  the  un- 
timely fate  of  his  brother,  and  leader  in  all  matters,  of  an 
adventurous  nature  at  least,  retired  to  his  home  and  estate 
in  Louisiana,  where  he  led  a  profitable  and  exemplary,  but 
less'  hazardoius,  life,  till  his  death  in  New  Orleans,  January 
17,  1841. 

And  thus  tragically  closed  the  history  of  this  famous, 
but,  perhaps,  forever  lost,  Almagres— since  ever  called  the 
"Bowie  Mine,"  because  Bowie  was  the  only  American  who 
ever  knew  the  secret  of  its  location.      "His    expedition    be- 


»The  citizens  of  Bexar  in  a  memorial  to  the  general  engagement,  stated  that  within 
ten  years— 1822  to  1832— ninety  seven  citizens,  besides  soldiers  killed  in  battles,  had  been 
murdered  by  hostile  Indians. 


82  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

gan,"  says  one,  "under    the  rainbow  of  promise,  but  closed 
under  the  cloud  of  appalling  disaster." 

Since  that  time,  eighty  years  ago,  many  other  adventur- 
ous and  enterprising  parties  have  sought  in  vain  to  locate 
this  mine.  The  treasure  is  yet  hidden,  and  will  likely  re- 
anain  a  mystery. 

The  following  letter  will  throw  some  light  on  the  char- 
acter  of  the  Bowies,   and  is  here  appropriately  inserted: 

New  Orleans,  La.  May  3,  1889. 
Mr.  Jas.  T.  DeShields, 

Dear  Sir:- 

I  am,  as  you  have  been  informed,  connected  with  the 
Bowies,  being  the  grand-daughter  of  Col.  Rezin  P.,  and 
grand  niece  of  Col.  James  Bowie;  and  as  such  I  thank  you 
for  your  kind  intentions  in  regard  to  them.  Some  "penny 
-a-liners"  more  fit  to  write  for  five  cent,  blood  and  thunder, 
sensational  publications,  than  for  history,  have  seen  fit  to 
describe  them  as  pirates,  border  ruffians  and  characters  of 
such  ilk,  simply  because  Grand-father  originated  the  knife 
bearing  'hiiis  name ;  and  that  for  use  only  as  a  hunting  knife. 
The  Bowies  were  men  of  honor,  and  gentlemen,  possesising 
both  intelligence  and  handsome  physiques.  They  loved  ad- 
venture and  excitement  of  a  legitimate  nature;  they  never 
sought  quarrels,  for  they  were  peaceful  and  amiable,  but 
fear  had  no  home  in  their  souls;  and  combined  with  a  just 
idea   of  their   own   rights,   was  the  courage  to  defend  them. 

Not  only  weire  they  heroes,  but  the  sons  of  a  hero,  for 
their  father,  Rezin  Bowie,  Sr., was  one  of  Gen.  Marion's  men, 
and  their  mother  was  of  sterling  worth.  She  met  her  hus- 
band in  Georgia,  during  the  Revolution,  W'hen  with  the 
spirit  of  a  patriot,  she  was  nursing  back  to  life  the  defend- 
ers of  her  country. 

I  hamdJed  yioiur  leititer  to  my  brother,  (Major  John  S. 
Moore,  167  Gravier  St.)  and  would  advise  you  to  address 
him  personally,  he  is  often  in  receipt  of  such  requests  as 
yours. 

My  mother  is  living,  and  with  my     brother,     she  is  the 
only  living  child  of  my  grand-father.     Uncle  James  left  no 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 


83 


childr€D,  his  wife  and  two  babies    died    preYicusly    to      his 
d-eath  at  the  Alamo. 

We   have  excellent  portraits    of    Grandpa    and    Uncle 
James.    Thanking  you  tonce  more,  I  remain, 

Respectfully  yours, 
Mrs.  Engine  Soniet  de  Fosset, 


Old  Stone  Fort  at  Nacogdadhes. 


CHAPTER  V. 


HILE  memoraible  in  the  history  of  Texas 
as  the  year  in  which  the  colonists  first 
took  up  arms  in  defeuse  of  their  liberties 
and  vested  rights  against  Mexican  military 
usurpation  and  despotism,  the  records  show, 
but  few  incidents  of  Indian  warfare  in 
1832.* 

Yoakum,  however,  tells  us  that  "the  In- 
dians along  the  Texan  frontier  were  gener- 
ally mischievous — in  fact  there  was  scarce- 
ly a  month  that  passed,  but  some  murder  or  robbery  was 
perpetrated  by  them."  So  we  see  that  the  year  18'32  was 
not  an  exception.  Hence  it  v;as  some  consolation  to  tha 
Texans  that,  during  this  year,  the  different  tribes  had  a 
good  deal  of  fighting  among  themselves,  especially  a  great 
battle  between  the  Comanches  and  Shawnees,  in  which  the 
former  were  badly  defeated. 


*Butthi3  year  did  not  pass  away  v/ithout  much  apprehension  of  serious  troubles  with 
Indians.  "This  was  a  year  of  suffering  for  Texas;  for  no  soonsr  had  they  been  relieved 
from  the  contest  with  the  Mexicans,  than  they  were  still  more  alarmed  by  the  ravages  of 
the  Indians,  who  were  making  continued  depredations  upon  the  frontiers.  Their  fears 
were  not  without  foundation;  for  the  powerful  bodies  of  Indians  in  their  vicinity  were  truly 
formidable."  Against  these  savages  their  own  moral  and  physical  resources  constituted 
about  the  sole  means  of  defense,  for  at  that  time  there  were  less  than  seventy  Mexican  sol- 
diers in  Texas,  and  these  were-sustained  by  the  citizens  of  Bexar.  And  too,  the  calamities 
of  the  settlers  were  still  further  increased  by  the  appearance  of  the  dreaded  cholera,  which 
had  been  long  traveling  westward,  desolating  hamlets,  towns  and  cities,  in  its  well  marked 
course;  and  which  reached  Texas  in  the  fall  of  this  year,  raging  with  fearful  violence  and 
claiming  as  its  victims,  many  of  the  valuable  and  useful  citizens  of  the  struggling  colonies. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  85 

SHAWNEES   OUTWIT  COMANCHES. 

In  1832  a  party  of  five  liundred  Comanches  came  in- 
to San  Antonio.  At  that  time  a  party  of  Sliawnees,  twenty- 
five  in  nium.b.er,  were  encamped  in  the  hills,  about  thirty- 
live  miles  north  of  the  town.  A  Comanche  Indian  attemp- 
ted tiO  cany  off  one  of  the  Shawnee  wcmen,  who  was  in 
the  town.  She  fled  to  her  own  people,  gave  them  informa- 
tion of  what  occurred,  and  they  prepared  an  ambush  for 
their  enemies  at  a  point  where  they  expected  them  to  en- 
camp. The  Comanches  came  as  anticipated,  and  took  off 
their  packs.  Just  at  this  time,  the  Shawnees  opened  fire 
on  them;  and  though  they  rallied  often,  so  deadly  was  the 
effect  and  so  secure  the  position  of  the  attacking  party, 
that  the  Comanches  at  last  fled,  leaving  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  dead  on  the  field.  The  discorafitted  party 
returned  to  San  Antonio,  and  the  Mexican  authorities  sent 
out  a  force  to  assist  them;  but  the  Shawnees  had  made  good 
their  retreat,  and  thus  far  escaped  the  Vv'rath  of  the  exas^ 
perated  Comanches.* 

It  will  be  remembered  that  at  this  period,  and  perhaps 
during  the  next  few  years,  the  Comanches  were  on  friendly 
terms   with    the    Americans.**     We  have  seen    that  a  large 

» Telegraph  and  Texas  Register,  Aug.  14.  1839. 

♦  ♦Although  the  Comanches  frequently  raided  the  Mexican  settlements  along  the  Rio 
Grande,  killing  rancheros  and  capturing  women  and  children,  during  the  first  years  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  they  were  all  along  friendly  to  the  American  settlers,  and  no  serious 
hostilities  can  be  charged  to  this  tribe  previous  to  about  1S34-35.  Ample  evidence  can  be 
produced  that  these  Indians  maintained  their  friendship  for  the  Americans  till  provoked  to 
hostility.  David  G.  Burnet,  afterward  prominent  in  the  political  affairs  of  Texas,  lived  with 
the  Comanches  from  1817  to  1819,  and  gives  them  a  good  reputation.  Likewise,  Gen.  S.  F. 
Austin  had  ample  demonstrations  of  their  honorable  intentions  and  friendly  feelings  toward 
the  American  settlers.  And  it  may  be  remembered  that  late  as  1831,  the  people  of  Gonzales 
gave  a  barbecue  dinner  to  about  one  hundred  Comanches— the  ladies  of  that  then  village  as- 
sisting in  serving  the  repast  and  entertaining  their  swarthy  visiters:  who  after  regaling 
themselves,  mounted  their  horses  and  departed,  with  mutual  expressions  of  good  will.  But 
this,  in  marked  contrast  with  all  that  soon  follows  concerning  the  Comanches  and  their  at- 
titude toward  the  whites.  Once  provoked  to  hostility,  they  commenced  a  most  cruel,  and 
bloody  warfare— waged  with  relentless  severity  for  nearly  half  a  century  against  the  settle- 
ments in  Texas.  Whether  true  or  not,  it  is  said  the  Comanches  were  first  provoked  to  en- 
mity by  a  company  of  French  traders  from  New  Orleans,  enroute  to  Santa  Fe,  and  who 
gave  poisoned  bread  to  a  begging  party  of  Comanches.  The  fatal  results  following  greatly 
incensed  the  Indians,  who  thereupon  determined  on  revenge,  and  declared  war  upon  the 
whites  in  general. 


86  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

delegation  of  this  tribe  met  Sam  Houston,  as  Indian  agent 
of  the  United  States,  in  friendly  council  at  San  Antonio  dur- 
ing the  last  days  of  this  year  or  the  first  of  1833.  "Dur- 
ing 1833  and  1834,"  says  Kenney,  "their  name  does  not  ap- 
pear in  the  hostilities  ascribed  to  known  tribes,  but  In- 
dian hostilities  in  general,  would  blacken  many  pages." 


BATTLE  OF  VELASCO. 

Recurring  to  political  affairs,  and  further  noticing  the 
warlike  commotions  of  the  Americans  and  Mexicans,  in  the 
colonies,  during  this  year,  it  will  be  seen  that  Bradburn, 
the  Mexican  commandant  at  Anahuac,  in  violation  of  civil 
law,  arrested  and  imprisoned,  seventeen  colonists,  including 
AVm.  B.  Travis,  Samuel  T.  Allen  and  Patrick  C.  Jack.  The 
settlers  flew  to  arms,  hastened  to  Anahuac  and  demand- 
ed their  release.  This  was  promised  in  return  for  the  sur- 
render of  twenty  of  Bradburn 's  soldiers  who  had  been  cap- 
tured. The  soldiers  were  delivered,  the  settlers  meanwhile 
retiring  to  Turtle  Bayou,  where  they  held  a  mass  meeting 
June  13,  at  which  they  passed  resolutions  denouncing  Bus- 
tamente,  and  pledging  support  to  the  IMexican  Constitution 
of  1824,  and  the  "patriot  Gen.  Santa  Anna."  The  commis- 
sioners sent  to  receive  the  Texan  prisoners  were  denied  ad*- 
mission  to  the  fort  and  were  fired  on.  It  was  recognized 
that  nothing  further  could  be  done  without  cannon  and  re- 
inforcements. John  Austin,  in  command  of  a  detail  of  men, 
was  sent  to  Brazoria  for  both. 

During  his  absence.  Col.  Piedras,  commander  at  Nac- 
ogdoches and  Bradburn 'si  military  superior,  arrived  at  An- 
ahuac, set  Travis  and  his  companions  at  liberty,  and  re- 
moved Bradburn  from  office.  Not  knowing  what  was 
transpiring  at  Anahuac,  John  Austin,  with  one  ihun- 
dred  audi  tw-elve  anen  and  a  schooner,  carrying  can- 
non, started  from  Brazoria.  When  they  reached  Velasco 
the  Mexican  officer,  Ugartechea,  in  command  at  that  post, 
refused  to  permit  the  schooner  to  pass.  Thereupon  was 
fought  the  battle  of  Velasco,  the  first  collision  between  the 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  87 

coloniista  and  Mexican  soldiery  in  wlvlch  blood  was  shed  in  reg- 
ular warfare,  much  more  of  an  actual  conflict  than  the  battle 
otf  San  Jacinto,  four  years  later,  amd  one  cif  the  most  bril- 
liant actions  ever  fought  within  the  limits  of  the  United 
iiJtates — equal  in  point  of  success  to  the  exploit  of  Dick 
Dowling  and  his  men  at  Sabine  Pass  during  the  war  be- 
tween the  States,  and  inferior  only  to  the  defense  of  the 
Alamo  by  Travis  and  his  comrades  in  1836. 

False  rumors  of  occurrences  in  Texas  reaching  Mexico, 
"where  Santa  Anna  was  engaged  in  a  struggle  with  the 
tyrant  Bustamente  for  the  supremacy,  Santa  Anna  im- 
mediately despatched  to  Texas,  Gen.  Jose  Antonio  Mcxia, 
with  four  hundred  infantry  and  five  armed  vessels  to  learn 
what  the  intentions  of  the  'Texans  were.  Stephen  F.  Aus- 
tin, while  at  Victoria,  the  capital  of  Tamaulipas,  learned 
of  this  expedition  and  hastened  to  Mata/moras,  where  he 
joined  Mexia  and  proceeded  vvitli  him  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Brazos.  Mexia  visited  Brazoria,  San  Felipe  and  other 
places,  and  was  thoroughly  convinced  that  the  Texans  were 
loyal  to  the  Republic  and.  genuine  supporters  of  the  liberal 
cajuse.  A  bamquet  was  given  in  his  hcaior,  at  which  speeches 
were  made  glowing  wdth  patriotic  enthusiasm  and  toasts 
were  drunk  to  Santa  Anna.  He  then  returned  to  Mexico, 
taking  with  him  most  of  the  troops  stationed  in  the  coast 
■country  and  at  San  Antonio.  Shortly  thereafter  James  W. 
Bullock  and  three  hundred  men  demamded  that  Piedras 
declare  for  Santa  Ajmna.  Piedras  refused.  A  brisk  fight 
ensued,  with  the  result  that  Piedras  retired  with  his  forc- 
es, or  rather  retreated  from  his  post  at  Nacogdoches  during 
the  night,  to  the  Angelina  River,  where  he  was  over- 
taken by  a  detachment  of  colonists,  under  James  Bowie, 
fio  whctm  he  surremdered) — ^his  soldiers  at  once  shouting, 
"Lofng  live  Santa  Anna!" 

Tiheeie  remarks  make  permissible,  extracts  from  a  re- 
cently discovered  and  highly  interesting  letter,  penned  by 
Ihe  empresario,  Alex.  S.  Thompson,  colleague  and  partner 
with  Sterling  C.  Robertson  of  the  famous  "Nashville  Com- 
pany," afterwards  known  as  "Robertson's  Colony." 


88  .      BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

The  organizaticn  of  this  company  was  fully  perfected 
in  1830,  and  the  following  year  Thompson  came  out  to  the 
colony  bringing  his  family.  Nashville  subsequently  be- 
came the  capital  of  Milam  County  for  several  years,  and  a 
.S'.>n,  W.  D.  Thompson,  was  tlie  first  county  clerk  in  1837. 
Tbe  ruins  of  his  honiie  Quay  yet  he  seen  on  the  site  of  this 
■old  town.  Another  son,  "Mac"  Tboimp&cin,  was  one  of  the 
seventeen  unfortunate  Meir  prisoibers  who  drew  the  black 
beans,  and  were  shot.  Alex  S.  Thompson  lived  many  years 
in  Burles'on  county,  where  he  died  in  1863,  aged  seventy- 
eight  years.     But  to  the  letttr: 

Texas,  Austin  Colony,  Aug.  5,  1832, 
Ivfy  Dear  Son  :- 

I  suppose  you  have  seen  in  tlie  public  prints  something 
cf  our  commotions,  and  no  doubt  felt  anxious  for  us.  A  few- 
weeks  ago  the  clouds  o^  war  hung  thick  over  us,  but  now 
are  ail  dispersed,  and  more  prosperous  times  are  approach- 
ing tlian  ever  havie  beien  sieein  in.  this  ciouintry. 

Our  commotions  in  this  colony  arose  from  Colonel 
Bradburn  having  taken  four  or  five  Amerdicam®  of  the  diss- 
triiL  in  which  he  lived,  and  put  them  in  confinement. 

The  alcalde  of  said  district  went  to  him  and  demand- 
ed them,  wishing  to  have  them  tried  by  the  civil  authori- 
ties. He  re^'used,  but  at  length  agceed  that  the  Ayunte- 
mento  miig'ht  try  them,  which  they  did,  and  set  them  at 
liberty. 

A  short  time  afterwards,  Bradburn  had  them  again  in 
confinement.  This  irritated  the  people  of  this  colony,  and 
a  good  many  of  them  volunteered  and  went  down  to  Brad- 
burn and  demanded  the  prisoners.  He  required  time  to  de- 
liberate, which  they  granted,  but  it  is  said  be  sent  off  for 
help,  and  then  refused,  after  forfeiting  his  honor.  Our 
men  then  sent  on  for  iall  tbe  cannon  that  was  in  the  colony, 
which  they  got  and  put  on  board  a  vessel  at  Brazoria, 
but  tbe  OolonK?!  that  ccmmainided  at  the  mouth  of  the  Braz- 
os, would  not  let  them  pass.  They  then  attacked  the  fort 
and  after  a  fight  of  eight  hours  the  fort  surrendered,  hav- 
ing fired  ninety  rounds  of  artillery  and  4,000  musket  shots. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  89 

Our  vessel  discharged  116  rounds  of  canncii.  I  have  not 
learned  how  many  rifle  balls,  but  such  bcld  militia  1  have 
never  heard  of  before. 

They  stood  in  th^e  open  prairie  and  fought  without 
cover,  and  even  marched  up  in  thirty-two  paces  of  the 
mouth  of  the  cannon  and  shot  the  Spaniards  as  fast  as  they 
approached  to  fire.  It  is  said  there  were  150  in  the  fort  and 
190  of  our  men.  They  killed  six  of  our  men  and  we  killed 
thirty  four  and  wounded,  I  think  about  forty. 

About  that  time  Colonel  Piedras,  who  commanded  at 
Nacogdoches,  went  to  our  army  on  the  Trinity  and  treated 
with  them  and  went  down  to  Bradburn  and  arrested  him, 
and  delivered  all  the  prisoners  to  them,  which  they  passed 
over  to  the  civil  power. 

The  men  thus  attained  their  object,  and  returned  home 
peaceably,  first  showing  the  military  that  the  constitution 
shiould  be  adhered  to  and  the  civil  power  rule. 

Soon  after  this.  Colonel  Austin,  who  was  in  the  in- 
terior, came  on  with  a  colonel  in  Santa  Anna 's  service  and 
was  joined  by  the  whole  colony.  They  sent  on  expresses  to 
the  different  garrisons,  which  had  already  consented  to  join 
them. 

Austin  seys  as  soon  as  the  legislature  meets,  the  State 
will  declare  in  favor  of  Santa  Anna. 

I  do  not  suppose  they  will  have  any  more  fighting  here. 
It  is  now  past  a  doubt  that  Santa  Anna  will  gain  his  point. 
(General  Teran  has  killed  Inn  self,  and  I  have  understood 
nearly  all  his  army  thait  were  not  killed  liave  joi(nied  Santa 
Anna,  who  now  holds  all  the  ports  of  entry,  and  commands 
all  the  revenue.  He  has  men  and  money  plenty,  while  the 
other  side  is  destitute  of  money,  and  their  men  are  con- 
tmually  deserting  them  and  joining  Santa  Anna. 

Santa  Anna  is  said  to  be  a  true  republican,  and  deter- 
mined not  to  lay  down  his  arms  without  republicanism  pre- 
vails. He  has  declared  himsel*  in  favor  of  religious  tolera- 
tioaa  and  free  emigration,  which  are  two  things  very  desirable 
for  this  country,  and  so  soon  as  that  takes  place,  our  coun- 
try  will   begin   to   flourish.     We  shall  then  have  the  light 


90  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

kind  of  people  to  settle  our  rich  prairies,  and  bottom  lands, 
and  those  of  us  who  have  ventured  and  suffered  so  much 
will  then  be  repaid  for  all  our  toils  and  troubles.    *  *  * 

Alex  S.  Thompson. 


AD  LAWRENCE'S  FAMOUS  LEAP. 

In  the  summer  of  1832  occurred  an  adventure,  thst  a^ 
told  by  the  hero  ;r.  his  own  homespun  phrase,  affords  the 
mind's  eye  a  glimpse  of  the  Texas  of  ^old,  and  its  inhalbi- 
tants  of  renown.  The  hero  in  quieisticn  was  Adam  or 
*'Ad"  Lawrence,  a  gift  of  Tennessee  to  Texais,  I  believe,  aind 
who  first  settled  near  the  headwaters  of  the  Trinity  River 
about  1829. 

Certainly  no  anan  could  have  been  by  nature  better 
adapted  to  the  profession  he  had  chosen.  Though  modest 
In  manner,  simple  an.d  unaffeeted  in  language,  and  of  kind 
and  gentle  disposition,  he  was  athletic  in  body,  undaunted 
in  spirit,  an<d  inured  to  hardships.  He  was  especially  fit- 
ted to  risk  the  dangers  of  frontier  life. 

About  1888  or  1839  Lawrence  settled  on  the  south  side 
of  Brushy  Creek,  atboiut  four  miles  west  from  what  was 
known  as  the  "Hole  in  the  Rock,"  in  Williamson  county, 
and  where  he  died  in  1880,  at  the  ripe  age  of  ninety  years. 
A  nephew,  G.  W.  Lawjr'entce,  mlay  still  reside  in  the  vicinity.  Ad 
Lawrence  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  white  man  who 
crossed  Brushy  Creek  a/t  tho  plaee  siimce  known  as  "Law- 
rence's Crossing."  He  was  nut  only  a  brave  and  daring 
Indian  lighter,  but  one  of  the  most  expert  mustang  ropers 
that  ever  threw  a  lariat  in  Texas.  On  the  occasion  re- 
ferred to,  Lawrence  and  three  companions  went  out  "mus- 
tanging."  Far  out  into  the  broad  prairie  a  herd  of  about 
one  hundred  mustangs  was  sighted,  feeding  on  the  tall,  lux- 
uriant grass.  As  they  cautiously  approached,  the  horses 
showed'  ttM>  sigiUiS  of  flight.  Comiing  nearer,  thie  hmi- 
1«rs  prudently  halted,  being  much  surprised  that  the  ani- 
mals exhibited  no  signs  of  alarm.  An  instant  later  and  the 
anomaly  was  explained'  in  rathf'r  a  surprising  manner.    Says 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  91 

Adi:  "The  long  grass  of  the  prairie  suddenly  became  alive 
with  Indians.  There  was  one  to  ■each  pony,  and  they  all 
mounted  at  a  jump  and  made  for  us  at  full  speed,  coiling 
their  lariats  as  they  rode.  Tihere  was  no  time  for  swapping 
liorsies,  so"  we  all  turned  tail  and  made  a  straight  shoot  for 
the  nearest  settlement  on  the  Trinity,  about  ten  miles  off. 
Our  animals  were  all  fine,  but  the  nag  I  rode  was  a  black 
mare,  a  little  ahead  of  anything  in  the  country  for  speed 
and  bottom.  We  rather  left  them  the  first  three  miles, 
but  then  their  ponies  began  to  show  themselves.  I  tell  you, 
you've  no  idea  how  much  an  Indian  can  get  out  of  those 
mustangs.  Instead  of  being  a  weight  to  them,  they  seem  to 
help  them  along,  and  they  kept  up  such  a  fearful  yelling, 
'pears  like  you  might  have  heard  them  to  Red  River.  We 
noticed  that  they  divided,  one  half  striking  of^  to  the  left, 
and  we  soon  found  out  the  reason,  for  we  quickly  came  to 
the  bank  of  a  deep  gully  or  ravine,  which  had  to  be  head- 
ed; it  couldn't  be  crossed.  They  knew  every  inch  of  the 
ground,  and  one  party  made  straight  for  the  head  of  the 
ravine,  while  the  balance  struck  in  "below  to  cut  us  off 
in  that  direction.  'Twas  no  use  talking — we  had  to  ride 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  left,  right  in  their  very 
faces,  and  head  that  branch.  My  nag  was  still  tolerably 
fresh;  the  others  were  beginning  to  blow  right  smartly.  I 
rode  just  fast  enough  to  keep  in  the  lead.  I  didn't  care 
particularly  about  getting  off  without  knowing  what  be- 
came of  my  companions.  Just  as  I  came  to  the  head  of  the 
hollow,  the  Indians  were  within  about  a  hundred  yards, 
and  yelling  awfully. 

"They  thought  they  had  us  sure.  I  gave  my  mare  the 
rein  and  just  touched  her  with  my  spur,  and  turned  the 
corner  with  about  fifty  arrows  whizzing  about  my  ears. 
One  stuck  in  my  buckskin  jacket,  and  one  in  my  mare's 
neck.  You  may  believe  she  didn't  go  any  slower  for  that — 
for  a  while  I  thought  she  cleared  about  twenty  feet  at  a 
jump.  Soon  as  I  got  headed  right  again,  I  looked  around 
to  see  what  had  become  of  the  others.  One  look  showed 
me.    They  were  all  down.    About  half  of  the  redskins  had 


92  BOEDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

stopped  to  finish  them,  and  the  balance  were  coming  for 
me  like  red  hot  lightning.  I  felt  kinder  dizzy-like  for  a 
minute,  and  then  straightened  up  and  determined  to  get 
away  if  I  could.  I  hadn't  much  fear,  if  I  didn't  have  to 
head  another  branch.  I  could  see  the  timber  of  Trinity 
three  miles  away,  and  I  gave  my  mare  her  own  head.  She 
had  been  powerful  badly  scared,  and  had  been  working 
too  hard,  and  she  was  puffing  a  good  deal. 

"I  managed  to  pull  out  the  arrow  which  was  sticking 
in  her  neck.  Then  I  worked  off  my  heavy  buckskin  coat, 
which  was  flopping  about  with  the  arrow  sticking  in  it, 
catching  a  good  deal  of  wind,  and  threw  it  away.  I  kept 
on  about  a  mile  further  without  gaining  or  losing  much. 
Then  I  made  up  my  mind  to  stop  and  let  my  nag  blow  a 
little,  because  I  knew  if  I  didn't  she  couldn't  hold  up  much 
longer.  So  I  pulled  up,  and  alighted  and  looked  around. 
Seemed  as  if  the  whole  country  was  alive  with  Indians. 
About  forty  in  a  bunch  a  few  hundred  yards  behind,  and 
one  not  a  hundred  yards  off.  I  loosened  my  saddle  girth 
so  she  could  breathe  good,  took  my  bridle  in  my  left  hand, 
and  pulled  my  butcher  knife  with  my  right.  It  was  the 
only  weapon  I  had;  I  had  dropped  my  rifle  when  I  got 
dizzy.  The  Indian  was  game.  He  never  stopped  until  he 
got  within  ten  feet  of  me.  Then  he  throwed  away  his  bow, 
jumped  off,  and  came  at  me  with  a  long  knife  like  mine. 
There  wasnt  time  for  a  long  fight.  I  had  made  my  calcula- 
tions, and  he  was  too  sure  he  had  me.  He  ran  full  against 
my  knife  and  I  left  him  laying  there.  I  heard  an  awful 
howl  from  the  others,  and  I  pulled  off  my  heavy  boots, 
tightened  my  girth,  and  mounted.  A  few  minutes  more 
and  I  struck  the  timber  of  the  Trinity,  and  then  made  the 
best  of  my  way  to  the  river. 

*'I  knew  that  for  miles,  up  and  down,  the  banks  were 
bluffs  and  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  high.  Where  I  struck 
the  river  they  were  fifteen.  I  knew  if  my  mare  w^ouldnt 
take  the  leap  I  had  to  do  it  without  her.  She  stopped  an 
instant  and  snorted  once  or  twice ;  but,  hearing  the  sava- 
ges yell  close  behind,  she  took  the  jump.    Down,    down    we 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  93 

went,  full  fifteen  feet,  plump  into  the  deep  water.  We 
both  went  under  for  a  second, then  she  rose,  and  struck  out 
for  the  opposite  bank  with  me  on  her  back.  Poor  creat- 
ure, she  got  about  two-thirds  across,  and  then  gave  out  un- 
der me  with  a  groan.  I  tell  you  I  fairly  loved  that  animal 
at  that  moment,  and  hated  to  leave  her  as  bad  as  if  she 
had  been  human. 

"I  swam  the  rest  of  the  way  and  crawled  out  on  the 
bank  pretty  well  used  up.  But  I  was  siafe.  I  saw  the  howl- 
ing and  disappointed  savages  come  to  the  bank  I  had  left. 
But  not  one  of  them  dared  to  take  the  leap.  And  the  dis- 
tance was  too  great  for  them  to  shoot.  So  I  rested  awhile 
and  then  made  the  best  of  my  way  to  the  settlement."* 


♦  Lawrence's  leap  is.  perhaps,  equalled  in  American  annals  only  by  that  of  Major  Sam 
McCulloch  down  Wheeling  Hill  (West  Virginia)  in  17T7. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


HEN  the  sun  rose  New  Year's  day,  1833, 
it  was  confidently  hoped  by  all,  and  be- 
lieved by  most  of  the  struggling  colonists 
that  it  ushered  in  what  was  to  be  a  new 
and  brighter  era  for  Texas.  It  was  known 
that  Santa  Anna  as  President  andj  Farias 
as  vice  President  of  Mexico,  would  be  in- 
augurated in  April  as  victorious  champions 
of  democratic-republican  principles  and 
pledged  to  the  restoration  of  the  federal 
corstitutioin  of  1824  in  letter  and  spirit.  It  was  thought  that 
centralism  had  been  trampled  in  the  dust  and  blood  of  the 
battle  field,  never  to  arise  again,  that  liberty  was  secure, 
and  that  all  other  good  things  would  follow — including  a 
sepaa*ate  state  government  for  Texas.  The  people  at  this 
time,  viewed  the  Mexican  flag  with  real  affection,  indulg- 
ing the  vain  hope  that  it  might  forever  remain  their  nation- 
al €nsign,  guiding  the  destinies  of  their  descendants. 

But  alas !  All  was  soon  changed.  The  mask  had  now 
been  so  far  removed  from  the  face  of  Santa  Anna,  as  to 
show  him  the  arch-traitor  he  was,  and  every  promise  madie 
to  th€  people  of  Texas  at  the  beginning  of  this  3'ear  was 
broken  before  its  close 

And  now  it  was  that  the  spirit  of  revolution  began  to 
assume  form.  "About  this  time,"  says  Burnet,  "small 
clouds,  the  bigness  of  a  man's  hand,   appeared,   heaving  up 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  95 

from  th€  political  horizon  of  Mexico,  and  portending  chang- 
es which  time  alone  could  comprehend  or  develop.  The 
little  portentious  clouds  gradually  expanded  and  gathered 
blackness,  until  the  year  1835,  when  the  sitorm  lwotk.e  vdolemt- 
ly  upon  the  confederacy;  and  Texas,  resolute  to  resist  the 
imposition  of  a  military  despotism,  was  driven  to  her  final 
and  well  consummated  declaration  of  independence  in  1836. 

Viewing  the  events  of  this  period  from  the  vantage 
point  of  today,  they  are  seen  to  he  the  seeds  from  which 
sprang  the  wonderful  future  that  followed. 

Briefly  noting  the  .records  of  this  year,  we  find  that 
both  the  American  and  the  Mexican  population  of  Texas 
were  clamorous  for  a  separate  state  government:  Jose  de 
la  Garza,  Augel  Navarro,  Jose  Casiano,  jMamial  Ximenes^ 
Jose  Augel  Seginin,  Jose  i\I.  Zambrano,  and  Tignacio  Ara- 
cha,  all  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  San  Antonio, 
addressed  a  memorial  to  the  Congress  of  Coahuila  and  Tex- 
as, in  which  they  called  attention  to  the  necessity  for  a  sep- 
arate state  government  for  Texas,  and  reform  of  the  land 
laws;  and  at  some  length  reviewed  conditions  with  regard 
to  Indian  hostilities.  They  said  that  Bexar  (San  Antonio,) 
was  founded  in  1693,  and  La  Bahia  (Goliad,)  and  Nacog- 
doches in  1717;  that  in  the  time  that  had  elapsed,  the 
presidios  of  San  Saba,  San  Marcos,  Trinidad  and  oth&r 
military  settlements  oni  the  rivers  Brazos,  Colofrado,  and 
Guadalupe,  had  been  formed  amd  later  disappe^ared  with 
the  settlements  that  surrounded  them,  in  some  instances  ev- 
ery soul  being  murdered  by  the  savages,  the  Government 
having  utterly  failed  to  redeem  its  pledges  to  protect  those 
who  would  undertake  to  people  and  civilize  the  wilderness; 
that  since  the  year  1821  ninety-seven  citdzens  of  Bexar,  LaBa- 
hia  and  the  new  town  of  'Gonzales,  had  been  killed  by  In- 
dians, exclusive  of  soldiers  who  perished  in  various  expedi- 
tions; that  further  west,  settlements  had  suffered  more,  and 
that  all  were  threatened  with  destruction  by  the  Coman- 
ches,  who  were  taking  advantage  of  all  troops  having  been 
withdrawn  from  Texas,  in  consequence  of  military  opera- 
tions in  Mexico.     The  memorialists  further  said     that     the 


96  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

only  body  of  soldiers  in  Texas  consisted  of  seventy  men  sup- 
ported by  voluntary  contributions  of  citizens  of  San  An- 
tonio. 

The  memorial  to  the  Federal  Congress  drawn  up  and 
adopted  by  the  American  settlers  of  Texas  in  convention 
assembled  at  San  Felipe  de  Austin,  in  April  1833,  and  for- 
warded to  the  capital  by  commissioner  Stephen  F.  Austin, 
painted  even  a  darker  picture:  "The  history  of  Texas,  from 
its  earliest  settlement  to  the  present  time  exhibits  a  series 
of  practical  neglects  and;  indifferences  \bo  alil  her  peculiar  in- 
terests on  the  part  of  each  successive  government  which  has 
had  control  of  her  political  destinies.  *****  Bexar, 
the  ancient  capital  of  Texas,  presents  a  faithful,  but  gloomy 
picture  of  her  general  want  of  protectioin,  and  encooirage- 
ment.  Situated  in  a  fertile,  picturesque,  and  healthful  re- 
gion, and  established  a  century  and  a  half  ago,  (within 
which  period  populous  and  magnificent  cities  have  sprung 
into  existence),  she  exhibits  lonly  the  decrepitude  of  age 
— sad  testimonials  of  the  absence  of  that  political  guard- 
ianship which  a  wise  government  should  always  bestow  up- 
on the  feebleness  of  its  exposed  frontier  settlements.  A 
hundred  and  seventeen  yea.rs  have  elapsed  since  Goli- 
ad and  Nacogdoches  assumed  the  distinctive  name  of 
towns,  and  they  are  still  entitled  only  to  the  diminutive  ap- 
pellation of  villages.  Other  military  and  missionary  estab- 
lishments have  been  attempted  but,  from  the  same  defect  of 
protection  and  encouragement,  they  have  been  swept  away, 
and  scarcely  a  vestige  remains  to  rescue  their  locations 
from  oblivion. 

"Bexar  is  istill  exposed  to  the  depredations  of  her  an- 
cient enemies,  the  insolvent,  vindictive,  and  faithless  Com- 
anches.  Her  citizens  are  still  miassacred,  their  cattle  de- 
stroyed or  driven  away,  and  their  very  habitation  threat- 
•oned  by  a  tribe  of  erratic  and  undisciplined  Indians,  whose 
long  continued  aggressions  have  invested  them  with  a  ficti- 
tious and  excessive  terrior.  Goliad  is  still  kept  in  con- 
stant trepidation;  is  paralyzed  in  all  her  efforts  for  improve- 
ment; and  is  harassed  on  all  her  borders  by  the  predatory 


i.     Genl  Waltsr  P.  Lane 
3.     Hayden  Edwards 


2.     Elisha  Anglin 
4.     Stirling  C.  Robertson 


i»»nw3ii.«»«»£ietssg:'a«3s^^ 


1.     Col.  Green  De  Witt 

3.    JoelW.  Robinson 


2.    Jas.   A.  Sylvester 

4.    Al«x  S.  Thompaon 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  97 

incursions  of  the  Wacos,  and  other  insignificant  hands  of 
savages,  whom  a  well  organized  local  government  would 
socn  subdue  and  exterminate." 

But  we  must  desist,  lest  this  should  assume  the  pro- 
portions of  a  disquisition,  involving  the  reader  in  the  laby- 
rinths of  Mexican  politics.  Rather  cu,r  purpcse  is  to  re- 
count the  more  stirring  episodes  of  border  warfare — horri- 
ble and  atrocicus  ss  are  the   details  in  most  instances. 


SCALPING  OF  WILBARGER. 

Many  incidents  in  Texas  history  illustrate  the  verity 
;C»i  the  saydmg  that,  "Truth  is  strangeir  than  fiction,"  but 
none  perhaps,  so  forcibly  as  the  circumstances  of  the  scalp- 
ing of  Wilbarger — since  their  dramatic  interest  includes  an 
occurrence  as  remarkable,  if  indeed  E.ot  as  mysterious,  as 
any  to  be  found  within  the  range  of  spiritualistic  and  psy- 
chological literature. 

Among  the  sturdy  emigrants  to  Austin's  Colony,  was 
Josiali  Wilbarger,  a  native  of  Bourbcai  county,  Kentucky, 
who  came  with  his  young  bride  and  his  father-in-law,  Le- 
maji   Baker,    from   Liiiicolim  county,  Missouri  in  1828. 

In  March,  1830,  .afiter  a  couple  cf  years  spent  in  what 
is  now  Matagorda  and  Colorado  counties,  Wilbarger  Loca- 
ted his  headright  league  ten  miles  above  Bastrop  on  the 
Colorado,  ar-d  with  his  wife,  baily,  ard  two  c.r  tl.rce  tran- 
sient young  men,  removed  to  that  then  extreme  and  great- 
ly expiCKdc'  seeticE,  and  er&cted  his  cabin.  IleTe,  for 
a  time,  he  was  the  outside  settler,  tut  scon  other  fear- 
less pioneers  located  along  the  river,  some  below,  others 
above — the  elder  Reuben  Hornsby  becoming,  and  for  several 
years  remaining,  the  outside  sentinel  of  American  civiliza- 
tion in  that  direction.  "Mr.  Wilbarger,"  says  Brown,  "lo- 
cated various  lands  for  other  parties  in  that  section,  it  be- 
ing Austin's  seccrd  grart  above  the  old  San  Antcnio  and 
Nacogdoches  road,  which  crossed  at  Bastrcp." 

Eairly  in  August,  1833,  Wilbarger,  in       company     with 
Christian,  a  &urveyoir,  frnd  three  young  men,  Strother,  Stand- 


98  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

ifer  and  Hanie,  rode  out  from  HcjEsly's  to  IcKik  at  the 
couiitry  and  locate  lands.  On  reaching  a  point  near  Walnut 
Creek,  some  five  or  six  miles  northwest  of  where  the  pres- 
•ent  capital  city  now  stands,  they  discovered  an  Indian  on 
e.  neighboring  ridge,  watching  their  movements.  He  was 
hailed  with  signs  of  friendship,  but  as  the  party  approach- 
ed, the  Indian  rode  away,  pointing  towards  a  smoke  rising 
from  a  cedar  brake  to  the  west.  After  a  short  pursuit,  fear- 
ing they  were  being  decoyed  into  a  large  camp  of  hostile 
Indians,  the  whites  halted,  held  a  short  consultation,  and 
at  once  determined  to  .return  to  Hornsby's.  On  Pecan 
Spricg  branch,  some  four  aniles  east  of  Austin,  and  in 
sight  of  the  present  dirt  road  leading  from  Austin  to  Ma- 
nor, they  stiOfpcd  to  refresh  themselves  and  horses.  "Wil- 
barger, Christian  and  Strother  unsaddled  and  hoppled  their 
horses,  but  lianie  and  Standi fer  left  their  animals  saddled 
and  staked  thean  to  graze,"  While  the  men  'were  eaiting, 
they  were  suddenly  charged  upon  by  about  sixty  savages, 
who  had  quietly  stolen  up  afoot  under  cover  of  the  brush 
and  timber,  leaving  their  hordes  ^n  the  rear,  and  out  of 
sight.  The  trees  near  them  were  small  and  afforded  but 
little  protection.  However,  each  man  sprang  behind  one 
and  promptly  returned  the  fire.  Strother  had  been  mortal- 
ly wounded  at  the  first  fire,  and  now  Christian  was  struck 
wilh  a  ball,  breaking  his  thigh  home.  Wilbarger  Bpirajug 
to  the  side  of  Christian,  set  him  up  against  his  tree,  primed 
his  loaded  gun,  and  jumped  again  behind  his  own  tree — 
receiving  in  the  operation  a  flesh  w^ound  in  the  thigh  and 
an  arrow  through  the  calf  of  his  leg;  and  scarcely  had  he 
regained  the  protection  of  his  tree,  w^hen  his  other  leg  was 
pierced  with  an  arrow.  Meantime,  the  steady  fire  and  dead- 
ly aim  of  the  whites  had  telling  effect,  causing  the  Indians 
to  withdraw  some  distance  and  out  of  range.  Up  to  this 
time  Hanie  and  Standifer  had  bravely  helped  to  sustain  the 
unequal  contest,  but  now,  seeing  that  Strother  was  dying. 
Christian  perhaps  moirtally,  and  Wilbarger  badly,  wounded, 
they  took   advaaitage   of  the  opportunity     to     secure     and 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  99 

mount  their  horses.  Wilbarger,  seeing  himself  thus  de- 
serted, and  his  horse  having  broke  away  and  fled,  im- 
plored the  two  men  to  stay  wuth  him  and  fight ;  but  if  they 
would  not,  to  allow  him  to  mouint  behindi  one  of  them. 
Just  then,  however,  seeing  the  enemy  'again  appr-o aching, 
they  fled  at  full  speed,  leaving  Wilbarger  to  his  fate.  "The 
Indians,"  says  Brown,  "one  having  mouinted  CliTLstian's 
horse,  encircled  him  on  all  sides.  He  had  seized  the  guns 
of  the  fallen  men,  and  just  as  he  was  taking  deliberate  aim 
at  the  mounted  w.arricr,  a  ball  entered  his  neck,  pa.ralyz- 
ing  him,  so  that  he  fell  to  the  ground  and  was  at  the  mercy 
of  the  wretches. 

With  exultant  yells  the  Indians  now  rushed'  upcp.,  am'd 
(Strippied  him  oiiakied,  ajnd  passing  a  knife  entirely  around 
his  head,  tore  off  the  scalp.  Though  helpless  and  apparent- 
ly dead,  the  poor  man  was  fully  conscious  of  all  that  tran- 
spired, e.nd  afterwards,  in  recounting  the  thrilling  experi- 
ence, .said  that  while  no  pain  was  perceptible,  the  removing 
of  his  scalp  sounded  like  the  omiinio.us  roiar  iiind  peal  of  dis- 
tant thunder.  The  three  men  were  stripped,  Christiap  amd 
Btrother'  sicalped  'audi  thicir  thro,atsi  cut,  amd  all  left  for  deiad; 
after  which  the  savaig.es  retired. 

Wilbarger  lay  in  a  dream}^  semi-conscious  condition 
till  late  in  the  evening,  when  the  loss  of  blood  finally  aroused 
him.  Crazed  with  the  pains  of  his  numerous  wounds,  and 
consumed  by  an  intolerable  thirst,  he  put  forth  the  little 
remaining  vitality  in  an  endeavor  to  reach  the  spring  near- 
by, which  he  at  last  accomplished,  dragging  himself  into 
the  water,  where  he  la}'  for  some  time,  till  chilled  and  quite 
numb,  he  crawled  out  on  dry  land,  and  fell  asleep.  When 
he  awoke  he  found  the  flow  of  blood  from  his  wounds  had 
ceased,  but,  horrors!  exposed  in  the  hot  sun,  the  detestable 
"blow  flies"  had  infested  and  literally  covered  his  scalp 
and  other  wounds.  Again  slaking  his  thirst  from  the  lim- 
pid little  stream  and  partially  appeasing  his  hunger  with  a 
few  snails  he  chanced  to  find,  he  felt  refreshed,  and  as 
night  approached,  determined  to  travel  as  far  as  he  could  in 
the  direction  of  Hornsby's.       But  poor  man,  he  did  not  re- 


100  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

alize  his  enfeebled  condition  from  pain  and  loss  of 
blood.  After  many  efforts  he  arose  and  staggered 
along  for  perhaps  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  when  he 
sank  to  the  earth  thoroughly  exhausted,  and  almost  lifeless, 
at  the  foot  of  a  large  post  oak  tree.  Here,  naked  and  ex- 
posed to  the  chilling  night  air,  he  lay,  suffering  intensely 
from  cold,  and  unable  to  move,  till  revived  by  the  warm 
sunshine   of   the  following   day. 

On  arriving  at  Hornsby's,  the  two  men,  Standifer  and 
Hanie,  told  how  the  Indians  had  attacked  and  killed  all 
three  of  their  companions;  and  how  they  had  narrowly  es- 
caped. A  messenger  was  at  once  despatched  to  warn  the 
settlers  below,  and  also  for  aid,  which  however,  could  not 
be  expected  before  the  following  day. 

And  inio;w  we  will  T'elate  a  'miO,st  m'arvieloius  co'inicideoice  of 
jciircuni'ta.niccisi — mcideaits  at  once  sot  mysitisriious  amd  saiper- 
(natural  a.s  t.o  excite  credtulky  ctf  belietf,  werie  it  nat  for  t'ba 
ihigh  chlaracteT  'aaad'  knowtni  veraciity  icf  those,  'who  tci  thedir 
dyibg  day,  vG'uie'hied  tfcir  .tUxflr  truth : 

During  the  night — that  long  and  agonizing  night — as 
"Wilbarger  lay  under  the  old  oak  tree,  "in  a  state  of  semi- 
consciousness, visions  flitting  through  his  mind  bordering 
on  the  marvelous  and  tlie  supernatural,  "he  distinctly  saw, 
standing  before  him,  the  spirit  of  his  siste.r,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Cliftcn,  V.  Lto  had  died  the  day  be:foire  in  Flcirisir.ini^iSt.  Loudsf 
county,  Ivlisisoiuri.*  Speakiing  gently,  she  said:-  "Brother 
Josiah,  ycu  are  too  weak  to  go  in  alone !  Remain  here  and 
friends  will  come  to  aid  you  before  the  setting  of  another 
sun."  And  then  moved  off  in  the  direction  of  the  settlements, 
"Wilbarger  piteously  calling,  "Margaret!  Stay  with  me." 
But  the  appa.rition  vanished. 

That  night,  and  about  the   same     hour — midnight — Mrs. 


♦  John  Henry  Brown  says:  "Mrs.  Clifton  died  the  day  before  at  Florisant,  St.  Louis 
county,  Missouri.  From  the  county  post-office  kept  by  my  uncle,  Capt.  Wm.  Kerr,  I  bore 
the  letter,  marked  "In  haste",  written  by  Mr.  Clifton  to  her  father  informing  him  of  her 
death." 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  101 

Hornsby  av.oke  from  a  most  vivid  and  startling  dream,  in 
which  she  beheld  AVilbarger,  j;live,  scalped,  bleeding  and 
naked,  at  the  foot  of  a  tree.  Her  husband  assuring  her  that 
dreams  were  always  unreal;  and  the  utter  impossibility  of 
this  one  being  true,  she  again  slumbered  —  till  about  three 
o'clock,  when  she  again  awoke,  intensely  excited,  and  arose 
sayirg,  "I  saw  him  again!  Wilbarger  is  not  dead:!  Goto 
the  poor  man  at  once;"  and  so  c.infidc'nt  was  Mns,  Ilornsby^ 
she  refused  to  retire  again,  but  busied  herself  preparing  an 
early  breakfast,  that  there  might  be  no  deley  in  starting  to 
Wilbarger's  relief.  As  the  nearest  neighbois  arrived  in  the 
morning,  Mrs.  Ilornsby  repeated  to  them  her  dual  vision 
and  urged  them  in  a  most  serious  manner,  to  go  to  AYilbar- 
ger  in  all  haste.  The  relief  party  consisted  of  Reuben 
Hornsby,  Joseph  Rogers,  John  Walters,  Webber,  and  oHiers. 
After  quite  a  search  from  the  vagiio  directions  of  the  tvra 
excited  men  who  had  escaped  from  the  scene,  they  finally 
found  the  bodies  of  Christian  ^nd  fetiother;  ard  presently 
discovered  a  most  ghastly  object— a  mass  of  blood — causing 
them  to  hesitate  and  clutch  their  guns;  'whereupon  the 
overjoyed  man  racse,  beckoned,  and  fiuylly  managed  to  say 
— "Don't  shoot,  friends;  it's  Wilbarger,  com«  on."  As 
they  approached  he  sank  down  and  called  out,  "Water! 
Water!"  and  when  revived,  spoke  of  his  sister  Vsho  had  visit- 
ed him  during  the  night  and  so  kindly  had  gone  for  help 
which  he  knew  would  come — firmly  believing  he  had  seen 
and  conversed  with  her  in  reality.  With  the  sheets  provid- 
ed by  Mrs.  Hornsby  for  that  purpose,  the  bodies  o^  Stroth- 
e,r  and  Christian  were  Avrapped  and  left  till  the  following' 
day,  when  the  party  again  went  out,  and  buried  theim.  In 
another  sheet  Wilbarger  was  wrapped  and  placed  on  a  horse 
in  front  of  Mr.  Hornsby,  who,  placing  his  anms  around  him, 
sustained  him  in  the  saddle  and  bore  him  to  the  hospitable 
home  and  tender  cares  of  Mrs.  Hornsby,  that  saintly  moth- 
er and  ministering  angel  of  the  frontier.  His  scalp  wound 
was  dressed  in  bear's  oil,  and  after  a  few  days  of  tender 
EursiDg,  the  great  loss  of  blood  preventing  febrile  tenden- 


102  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

cies,  he   was  sufficiently  recovered  to  Le  placed  on  a  sled 
and  conveyed  to  his  own  cabin. 

Rapidly  Wilbarger  recovered  his  usual  health,  and  lived 
for  clevtn  years,  prospering,  and  accumulating  a  handsome 
estate.  But  his  skull,  'bereft  of  the  inner  membrane  and  so 
long  exposed  to  the  sun,  never  entirely  covered  over,  neces- 
sitating artifical  covering,  and  eventually  caused  his  death, 
hastened,  as  his  physician.  Dr.  Anderson,  thought,  by  acci- 
dentally striking  his  head  against  the  upper  portion  of  a  low 
door  frame  of  his  gin  house,  causing  the  bone  to  exfoliate, 
■exposing  the  brain  and  producing  delirium.  He  died  at  his 
home  in  1845,  survived  by  his  wife  and  five  children.  His 
widow,  wh.o  afterward  tmarried  Tolbert  Chambers,  was  the 
second  time  bereft,  and  died  a  widow  in  Bastrop  in  1896. 
The  eldest  son,  John  Wilbarger,  a  most  gallant  ranger  un- 
der Col.  "Rip"  Ford,  was  killed  by  Indians  in  the  Neuces 
River  countiy,  in  1847.  Harvey  Wilbarger,  another  son, 
lived  to  raise  a  large  family.  One  married  daughter  lives 
at  Georgetown,  and  another  at  Belton,  Texas.  Of  the 
brothers  srd  sisters  of  Josiah  Wilbarger,  who  came  to 
Texas  in  1837,  J.  W.  Wilbarger,  (Author  of  "Indian  Depre- 
dations in  Texas")  died  near  Round  Rock  in  1890,  and 
"Aunt  Sallie"  Wilbarger,  long  resided  at  Georgetown, 
where  she  died  several  years  since.  Another  sister  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Col.  W.  C.  Dalryrnple,  died  many  years 
ago,  and  still  another — INIrs.  I^ewis  Jones, — died  on  the  Avay 
to  Texas.  ]\Iatthias,  a  brother,  was  a  noted  surveyor,  and 
died  of  smallpox  at  Georgetown  in  1853. 

William  Hornsby  died  in  1901,  near  Austin,  and  his  par- 
ents many  years  before.  The  beautiful  home  and  fertile 
Hornsby  farm  is  still  owned  by  surviving  members  of  the 
family. 

So  far  as  we  can  ascertain,  this  was  the  first  blood 
shed  in  that  part  of  the  State- (in  what  is  now  Travis  county), 
at  the  hands  of  the  implacable  savages,  but  it  was  "the  be- 
ginning,   hcv.ever,"   says   Wilbarger,  "of  a  bloody  era  which 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  lOa 

was  soon  to  dawn  upon  the  people  of  the  Colorado."* 

"The  viisicin,"  contmues  Wilbarger,  "which  impreas- 
ed  Mrs.  Hornsby,  was  spoken  of  far  and  wide  th,riough  the 
colony  fifty  y^ars  aga;  her  earnest  manner  and}  perfect 
confid'Cnce  that  Wilbarger  was  alive,  in  connection  with 
her  vision  and  its  realization,  made  a  profound  impression 
on  the  men  present,  who  spoke  of  it  ■everywhere.  There 
were  no  telegraphs  in  those  days,  and  no  means  of  know- 
ing that  Margaret,  the  sistejr,  had  died  seven  hundred  miles 
away,  on  the  dsy  before  her  brother  was  wounded.  The 
stoiy  of  her  apparition,  related  before  he  knew  that  she 
was  dead — her  going  in  the  direction  of  Hornsby's  and  Mrs. 
Hornsby's  vision,  recurring^  after  slumber,  presents  a 
mystery  that  made  then  a  deep  impressicn  ard  created  a 
feeling  of  av.e,  which,  after  the  lapse  of  half  a  cenutry,  it 
still  inspires.  No  man  who  knew  them  ever  questioned  the 
veracity  of  either  Wilbarger  or  the  Hornsby's,  and  Mrs. 
Hornsby  was  loved  and  revered  by  all  \^ho  knew  her. 

"We  leave  to  thois^mo-re  versed  in  the  occult  the  task 
of  explainirg  this  mystery.  Surely  such  things  are  not  ac- 
eidentu;  they  tell  as  of  a  spirit  world  and  of  a  God  who 
'moves  in  a  mysterious  way  His  wcmdeirs  to,  perform.'  " 

Other  incidents  of  border  warfare  cccurring  this  year 
are  of  minor  importaece  and  witihout  exact  date  oir  deitiails: 
ss  the  murder  of  Alexander,  a  trapper,  near  the  Ledbetter- 
La  Grange  road  on  a  small  stTeamlet  since  oalled  Alexandefr 's 
Bramich  film  Fayett©  oounty;  and  the  killing  of  one  Earth- 
man  on  Long  Prairie,  near  the  present  post-office  ^^aralet 
o^  Nechanitz  in  the  same  county;  the  adventures  of  Tom 
Alley  while  out  hunting  horses  mi  itho  'Cummiffigs'  Creek 
community — unexpectedly  riding  into  a  camp  of  Indians, 
who  fired  upon  and  severely  w^ounded  him,  as  he  put  spurs 
to   his   steed    and   fled.     Settlers  followed  these  Indians  to- 


♦  Recallrng  the  days  of  childhood,"  says  John  Henry  Brown,  in  writing  of  Josiah  Wil- 
barger and  other  worthy  members  of  the  family  in  Texas,  "when  the  writer  often  sat  upon 
his  lap  and  received  many  evidences  of  his  kindly  nature,  it  is  a  pleasure  to  state  that  in 
1858  he  enjoyed  and  eTibraced  the  opportunity  of  naming  the  county  of  Wilbarger  jointly 
for  hirn  and  his  brother.  Mathias,  a  surveyor." 


104  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

ward!  ithe  li.eaKll  cif  iCulnxirij'lrLgis '  Creek,  where  the  trail  was 
lost  in  consequence  of  the  grass  heirg  hnrneel  to  elude 
further  i"iujr&fuit. 

lu  the  spring  of  this  year  a  hand  of  Keechi  Indians 
riaideid  U\e  Cujmmrngs'  Cneiek  settlements,  in  Fayette  cou'nity, 
comniittirg  various  depredaticns.  Hastily  colk-ctinig  a  com- 
pany cf  twenty  settlers,  Captain  John  York  pursued,  at- 
tacked ctnd  killed  eiight  cir  temi  of  them,  dLsp'Oirsiing  t'hie 
ethers.  Ihis  was,  so  far  as  known,  their  last,  and  perhaps 
only  really  hostile  demonstration  against  the  settlers.  The 
Keechis  were  comparatively  a  small,  insignificant  band,  of 
beggarly  and  thieviinjg  piropemsitics,  and  early  lost  their  tri- 
bal lexistcince.,  affilllait!(nig  with  other  tribes. 

Duricg  the  same  year  a  traveller  named  Reed,  stopped 
a,t  Tenoxtitlan,  Falls  of  the  Brazos,  now  in  the  lower  part 
of  Falls  county.  At  that  time  a  small  party  of  friendly 
Tonkawa  Indiars  were  camped  nearby,  and  with  one  of 
whom  Reed  "swapped"  horses,  ard  it  is  said,  drove  a 
shrewd  bargain,  which  he  refused  to  rule.  A  fevv^  days 
later,  'as.  the  stramger  left  the  vicinity  en  liis  return  to  the 
United  States,  he  was  waylaiel  ard  murelereel  by  the  exas- 
perated Tonkawas,  who  appropriated  his  horse  and  equip- 
in  ents  aud  fled.  The  old  Caddo  chief,  Canoma,  Avho  Avas 
about  the  settlements  a  good  deal,  anidl  tlnemi  at  tbe" Falls," 
with  some  of  his  warriors,  went  ini  puiviiuit  ajadi  cini  tba 
eighth  drxv,  returned  with  seven  "Tonk"  scalps,  Reed's 
horse  and  other  trophies — receiving  the  substantial  commen- 
dation cf  the  settlers.  The  sad  fate  of  Canoma  at  the 
hands  cf  the  whites  to  whom  he  was  ever  friendly  and 
faithful,  some  two  years  later,  will  be  related  in  the  order 
of  its  occurrence.* 

"Other  matters  of  interest,"  says  Jobn  Heniry  Brown, 
*' occurred  in  and  about  1833.     The  colony  of  De  Leon  had 


♦  The  Tonkawas  ever  professed   friendship  to  the  whites,  and  being  hereditary  ene- 
mies of  the  Comanches,   often   joined   the  settlers  and  rangrers  in  expeditions  ag'ainst  this 
tribe,  rendering  valuable  and  valiant  services.     Kenney  says,  "This  is  the  solitary   instance 
of  hostility  by  the  Tonkawas  in  their  long  and  trying  experience  of  more  than  fifty  years 
contact  with  the  white  people  from  the  first  settlement  of  Texas." 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  105- 

increased  consiceiably  by  the  inccmirg  &^  a  goctl  class  of 
Mexicans  and  quite  a  number  of  Americans,  including  sev- 
eral Irishmen  and  their  families  from  the  United  States,, 
the  younger  members  being  (natives  of  that  cca.lntry,  an>d 
amiong  whoim  were  itlio  foiUcp'img :  Jol.b  jMcHtmry  (a  settler 
slaiiee  1826),  John  Liinn,  and  his  sons,  John  J,,  Charles, 
Henry  and  Edward,  and  two  daughters,  (subsequently  the 
wives  of  Maj.  James  Kerr  and  James  A.  Moody),  whio  came 
in  1830-31 ;  Mrs.  Margaret  Bo^bo,  afterwairds  Wright,  (who 
caane  in  1825),  Joseph  Ware  and  others.  From  about  182^ 
to  1833-34,  tbe  colonists  of  Power  aind  Ilowitsctn,  with  head- 
quarters at  the  Mission  of  Refugio,  and  jMcMulleni  and  Mc- 
Gloin,  of  which  San  Patricio  was  the  capital,  received  val- 
uable additions  in  a  woa-thy,  sober,  industrious  class  of  peo- 
ple, chiefly  from  Ireland,  a  few  of  Iiisli  extraction,  born; 
in  th(e  Uinited  Stat.e,s,  and  othtirs  wh^o  wili-e  Americaimsi. 
They  were  more  exposed  to  Mexican  oppression  than  the 
'ccilcinists  farifher  east  aind  eqoially  so  to  hostile  Indians."* 
Glancing  at  the  history  of  cokiiiCal  Texasi  abciult  thisr 
period,  one  can  but  wonder  at  the  sigrs  of  substantial  and 
permanent  growth,  despite  all  restrict'ons  ani  obstacle?. 
The  spirit  of  colonization  was  abroad,  and  fearless  emi- 
grants were  constantly  arriving  overland  by  the  various 
Itighways** — menaced  though  they  were  by  lurking  savages, - 
who  often  lay  in  ambush  to  pounce  upon  the  new-comers.. 
**In  1833,"  says  Pease,  "the  tkje  of  emitiigriaticfci  frcm^  the'- 
United  States,  which  had  been  interrupted  during     the     ad- 


♦  It  is  of  interest  to  note  that  25  of  these  colonists  signed  the  Goliad  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence, Dec.  20,  1835,  and  four  of  them  signed  the  regular  Declaratioti  of  Texas  Inde- 
pendence, March  2,  1836. 

»»The  late  venerable  pioneer,  I.  D.  Parker,  says:  "My  father's  family  came  to  Texas 
in  1833.  At  that  time  the  San  Antonio  road  was  the  only  highway  running  through  Texas. 
It  led  from  Nachedoches,  in  Louisiana,  to  San  Antonio,  and  thence  to  the  Rio  Grande— via 
Nacogdnches,  Tenoxtitlan  on  the  Brazos,  Mina  (now  Bastrop)  on  the  Colorado,  and  thence 
to  San  Antonio,  crossing  the  San  Marcos  near  the  mouth  of  the  Blanco.  James  Gaines  kept' 
a  ferry  on  the  Sabine  River,  Joseph  Durst  on  the  Angtline,  Leonard  Williamson  the  Neches,- 
Nathaniel  Robbins  on  the  Trinity,  Jeremiah  Timson  on  the  Navasota,  and  Wm.  Boren  onS 
the  Brazos.  The  La  Bahia  (Goliad)  road  left  the  San  Antonio  road  three  miles  west  of  the" 
Trinity  River,  crossing  the  Brazos  at  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Washington,  where' 
Jack  Hall  kept  a  ferry,  and  thence  to  Goliad."— Unpublished  "Reminiscences  of  Pioneer^ 
Life  in  Texas."    MS.  p.  1. 


106  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

ministration  of  Bustamente,  began  again  to  flow    into     the 
country." 

"The  history  of  frontier  expansion  in  the  United 
States"  says  Thrall,  "shows  that  it  is  no  easy  task.  In 
Texas  the  difficulties  were  very  great.  It  M^as  remote  from 
other  settlements — in  a  foreign  country,  with  a  government 
and  institutions  entirely  different  from  those  of  the  North; 
and  the  country  was  pre-occupied  by  Indians.  Consider- 
ing all  these  circumstances,  the  success  of  Austin  and 
others  in  introducing  Anglo-American  colonists,  was  won- 
derful. If  we  inquire  into  the  grounds  o^  this  success,  we 
shall  fird  it  in  the  cbaracter  •ol  the  men.  They  were  brave, 
hardy,  industrioius  men,  self-helpful  and  self-reliant.  They 
asked  no  faA'ors  of  the  Government,  and  that  Government  let 
them  severely  alone.  Their  stout  arms  cultivated  their 
farms  and  protected  their  homes  from  the  incursions  of  the 
savages.  Volumes  might  be  written,  detailing  instances  of 
individual  bravery — of  hardships  cheerfully  endured  by  old 
and  young,  male  and  female  coltoni/sts."* 


THE  MADDEN  MASSACRE. 

The  Madden  family  came  to  Texas  in  1832,  locating 
•neaa*  thje  Tiriinity  rn  Houston  county.  To  better  secure 
themselves  in  ease  of  an  attack  from  Indianis,  some  three 
or  four  neighb'Oiri'nig  families,  as-  was  frequently  the  case  in 
those  days,  had  joined  together  and  built  a  strong  doublo 
log  cabin  with  entry  between,  and  where  they  all  resided, 
opening  and  cultivating  small  fields  near  iby. 

The  awful,  bloody  and  heart-rending  tragedy  we  must 
■iw)w  relate — the  ome  of  cmly  two  such  instances  on  record 
jn  which  the  fair  name  and  courage  of  Texas  pioneers  has 
been  disgraced  Mnth  cowardice — occurred  in  the  fall  of  the 
year,  and  during  the  moonlight  nights,  the  time  usually  se- 
lected by  the  red  men  for  making  their  raids. 

On  the  fatal  night,  four  men,  eight  women  and  several 

»  "Pictorial  History  of  Texas."  pp.  171-2. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  107 

children  were  occupying  the  house.  For  a  time  all  wer© 
in  one  room,  but  the  men,  leaving  their  guns,  went  into  the 
adjoining  room,  and  kindling  a  fire,  busied  themselves 
molding  bullets.  Meantime  the  lurking  savages,  a  party 
of  Caddos,  had  crept  up  and  around  the  buildings,  cauti- 
ously peering  in  and  ascertaining  the  defenseless  situation 
of  the  unsuspecting  inmates.  As  tlhe  fulil  ctrbed  moon  arose, 
casting  its  soft  and  tranquil  flood  of  light  upon  the  scene, 
the  stillness  of  the  night  was  suddenly  rent  by  war  whoops 
sjodi  yells  fiendlish  tincaigh  to  €ihill  ithe  strongeist  hieart, 
and  indeed  strike  terror  to  helpless  women  and  children; 
at  the  same  time  forms,  hideous  as  those  of  the  under 
world,  arose  from  brush  and  covert  and  rushed  from  every 
direction  into  the  hallway,  and  most  of  them,  in  upon  the 
terrified  women  and  children,  one  powerful  and  hideous 
demon,  guarding  the  doorway  by  ^reading  his  arms  and 
legs  from  side  to  side  and  grasping  the  lintels  with  his 
hands,  all  the  while  yelling  and  gloating  rapturously  over 
the  bloody,  sickening  scene  oif  death  wrouglit  withfm.  Mrs. 
Madden  was  first  attacked  and  socn  fell  apparently  life- 
less, but  regaining  consciousness  ciawled  under  a  bed  fol- 
lowed by  one  of  her  little  sons.  Another  lady  was  toma- 
hawked and  fell  dead  into  the  fireplace,  her  life's  blood 
flowing  so  profusely  as  to  extinguish  the  flames,  and  leave 
the  fiends  to  complete  the  slaughter  in  semi-darkness.  Tak- 
ing advantage  of  this,  and  the  engrossed  attention  of  the 
door  guard,  Mrs.  Madden  with  her  little  son  succeeded  in 
crawling  out  of  the  room,  and  making  her  way  to  an  unoc- 
cupied negro  cabin  a  short  distance  away,  where  she  secret- 
ed herself  and  child  and  thus  escaped.  Meanwhile,  with  tom- 
ahawk and  scalping  knife  the  savages  completed  their  dia- 
bolical work,  killiEg  in  all  seven  women  and  children. 

As  to  the  four  men — we  only  refer  to  them  through 
necessity  of  comj)leting  the  narrative — it  is  said  that  as 
sjoooi  as  the  dying  groans  of  tiheir  wives  a^ad  children  reaehed. 
thedar  ears,  they  daalied  onit  of  the  room  and  escaped. 

SeeuriEig  the  gnms  of  the  whites,  the     Indians     now  set 


108 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 


fire  to  the  biaiildiing,  which  cc'nsumeid  it,  witto  the  bodies  of 
their  victims.  Nearby  they  threw  down  their  own  in- 
feriiior  gums  and  left  the  settleme'nit  without  pursuit. 

After  a  long  and  doubtful  illness,  Mrs.  Madden  recov- 
■ered  and  lived  several  years. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


HE  year  1834  we  are  told,  was  ushered  ia 
by  a  ''freezing"  norther — fitting  precur- 
sor of  the  cold  indifference  with  which  the 
Mexican  nation  looked  upon  their  Ameri- 
can colonists  in  Texas.  Political  events 
had  assumed  a  still  worse  complexion  in 
Texas    at    this  date. 

Santa    Annai,  havlmig  received  the  support 
of  the  army  and  church,  went  over  to  the 
cenitiraliist  party,  dissolved  the  constitution- 
al congress,   convened   one   composed   of  hiis   creatures,   and 
became  virtually  the  dictator  of  Mexico. 

In  the  spring  Santa  Anna  assembled  a  council,  com- 
posed of  Stephen  F.  Austin,  Lorenzo  Zavala,  three  members 
of  the  ecmigi'iess  of  Coahuil-a  and  Texas,  and  seven  IMexican 
officials,  to  consider  affairs  in  Texais.  Austim  made  a 
strong  plea  in  favor  of  the  memorial  of  the  Texas  conven- 
tion of  1833.  The  three  members  of  congress,  all  of  whom 
were  from  Coahuila,  opposed  it.  Santa  Anna  announced  his 
decision  to  be  that  Texas  should  have  la  separate  govefrmnent, 
and  that  four  thousand  troops  should  be  stationed  at  San 
-Antonio  for  the  protection  of  the  country — to  which  Austin 
strenuously  objected,  but  without  effect.  This  opposition 
on  the  part  of  Austin,  doubtless  had  much  to  do  with  the 
continuance   of  his  imprisonment. 


110  ,  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

An  attempt  to  cliange  the  seat  of  governmnt  of  Coa- 
huila  and  Texas  ftrom  Saltiilo  to  Monclova,  led  to  commo- 
ticns  that  resulted  in  rival  governors  and  legislatures  b^ing 
installed  at  th«  two  places,  and  the  Mexican  part  of  the 
Slate  being  divided  into  two  factions.  These  difficulties 
were  referred  to  Santa  Anna  m  December,  who  decided  that 
the  capital  should  remain  at  Monclova,  amd  ordered  new 
■ticctions. 

There  were  two  parties  in  Mexico — the  centralist  and 
republican,  the  latter  not  being  completely  crushed.  There 
were  also  two  in  Texas — one  ^'avoring  immediate  and  deter- 
mined action  for  separate  state  government  and  co-opera- 
tion with  the  patriot  republicans  of  Mexicoi;  the  other  fa- 
voring acquiescence  in  the  existing  status,  at  least  until 
Austin's  release  and  return  to  Texas,  amd  umitil  it  should 
definitely  appear  what  Santa  Anna's  policy  was  to  be.  The 
latter  party  in  Texas  prevailed  for  the  time  being. 

This  year  did  not  pass  away  Avithcut  the  usual  out- 
rages by  Indians.  No  historical  record  has  been  preserved 
of  many  of  these  events,  but  ample  evidence  has  been  left 
that  proves  the  Indians  annoyed  the  colonists  more  or  less. 
Speaking  of  the  Comanches  and  alluclEmg  iinicidentally  (to 
other  tribes,  Kencey  says:  "During  1833  and  1834  their 
name  does  not  appear  in  the  hostilities  ascribed  to  known 
tribes;  but  Indian  hostilities  in  general  would  blacken 
many  pages." 

Pioneer  Dewees,  in  his  "Letters  from  'Texas,"  writing 
under  date,  "Colorado  River,  Texas.  Oct.  31,  1834,"  says: 
"The  first  storm  of  Mexican  v^rath  is  lulled;  but  the  In- 
dians, who  have  ever  been  our  enemies,  still  continue  to  an- 
noy us.  They  will  fall  upon  small  parties  of  men,  and  kill 
them,  and  also  steal  our  horses  and  cattle.  Indeed  such  a 
tliing  as  being  free  from  the  nouoletstajtdons  of  the  Indiams 
has  never  been  known  in  the  history  of  Texas,  and  doubt- 
less, will  not  be  known  for  many  years  to  come."* 


♦  Decree  No.  278  of  Coahuila  and  Texas,  enacted  April  19,  1834,  authorizes  the  gover- 
nor to  organize  and  employ  militia  aerainet  hostile  Indians,   places  400  sitos  of  land  at  his 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  Ill 

While  the  records  supply  Boaterials  for  accounts  of  thril- 
ling incidents  that  transpired  within  the  limits  of  Austin's 
and  DeWitt's  Colonies,  little  reliable  data  is  obtainable  that 
relates  to  Indian  troubles  in  the  early  settlement  of  Red 
River  eouinty,  'and!  the  nx)irtheastern  part  of  the  State. 

"Although  dim  vistas  appear,"  says  John  Henry 
Brown,  "of  iairoad®  by  Indians — icLbeis  and  occasional 
murders  by  Gooishatties,  Tehuacanais,  Wacos,  'and  other  tribes 
— it  is  lamentable  that  not  on^  of  those  early  settlers  ever 
wrote,  or  caused  to  write,  an  account  of  such  events  until 
age  impaired  the  memory.  IleoDce  the  narrative  'we  gather, 
lacks  that  certainty  amd  def initeness,  so  desirable  in  such 
matters." 

These  observations  are  emphasized  by  the  confused 
and  conflicting  stories  that  have  been  preserved  concern- 
ing the  killing  of  Judge  Gabriel  N.  Martin  and  the  capture 
of  his  little  son  in  May  or  June,  1834. 


MURDER  OF  JUDGE  GABRIEL     N.   MARTIN— CAPTIVE 
TY  AND  RECOVERY  OF   HIS   LITTLE   SON- 
SOME    CORRECTED  HISTORY. 

The  accounts  published  by  Thrall,  Wilbarger  and  Sow- 
ell,  mention  only  one  expedition  for  the  recovery  of  the 
boy,  and  place  it  in  th«  year  1834.  They  differ  as  to  what 
officer  commanded  the  United  States  military  force,  some 
saying  Leavenworth,  and  later  Dean,  and  others.  Col.  (in 
after  years  Gen.)  Dodge.  Radical  discrepancies  exist  with 
regard  to  the  circumstances  attending  the  killing  of  Judge 
Martin,  and  whether  a  negro  was  captured  with  the  boy. 
One  version  is  that  the  hunting  party  had  mounted  the  rise 
of  a  hill  andi  while  watching  a  herd  of  buffalo,  was  charged 
upon  by  the  Indians;  and  that  Judge  Martin  and  son  fell 
behind  and  the  Judge  was  killed,  and  the  boy  and  negro 
man  were  made  prisoners. 


disposal  for  distribution  to  militiamen  as  remuneration  for  their  services  on  such  terms  as 
he  migrht  establish,  and  appropriates  $20,000.00  to  further  aid  in  the  accomplishment  of  the 
ends  proposed. 


112  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Others  give  a  wholly  different  recital — one  saying  the 
Iindians  ware  Pawmieie^  lamdl  that  Judge  Martin  and  a 
negro  man  w^re  killed  in  camp.  Careful  sifting  of  the  evi- 
dence, renders  it  certain  that  there  were  two  expeditions 
for  the  recovery  of  the  boy — one  in  1834  and  the  other  in 
1236,  and  that  the  United  States  dragoons  in  the  first  year 
were  commanded  by  Dean,  and  in  the  latter  year  by  Dodge. 
Lowell  possibly  confuses  and  blends  together  as  happening 
in  1834,  events  that  occurred  in  both  years. 

That  Martin  was  killed  in  May  or  June,  1S34,  and  that 
the  boy  was  recovered  in  1836,  ma^tnly  thrcimgh  the  instru- 
mentality of  Col.  Dodge,  are  the  main  points,  and  about 
which  there  is  little  or  no  doubt. 

Fortunately,  through  access  to  the  official  itinerary  of 
<^ol.  IX;rry  Dodge,  in  command  of  the  United  States 
cavalry,  or  "moutated  rangers,  "  and  then  on  an  observation 
and  treaty-making  tour  among  the  "wild  Indians  of  the  far 
west;"  supplemented  and  corroborated  by  the  ''notes"  of 
Catlin,  the  artist,  who  accompanied  this  expedition,  we  are 
enabled  to  give  the  reader  an  elaborate  and  reliable  narra- 
tive of  this  notable  affair. 

Judge  Martin  was  one  of  the  early  and  prominent  citi- 
zens of  Pecan  Point,  itn  Red  River  coumity,  Texas,  amidl  a  isom-- 
in-law  of  that  still  earlier  and  staunch  pioneer,  Claiborne 
"Wright,  who  landed  at  Pecan  Point  after  a  most  hazardous 
leel-boat  voyage  of  six  months  doAvn  the  Cumberland,  the 
Ohio  and  the  Mississippi  Rivers,  to  the  mouth  of  Red 
Biver,  and  thence  up  that  stream,  arriving  at  his  destina- 
tion on  the  5th.  day  of  Septernber,  1816. 

Martin  was  of  a  bold  and  fearless  nature,  fond  of  hunt- 
ing and  outdoor  life.  In  the  latter  days  of  May  or  first 
part  of  June,  with  a  small  partv  composed  of  himself,  his 
little  son,  Matthew  W.,  a  negro  playmate  of  the  lat- 
ter, Daniel  Davis,  James  and  Robert  Gamble,  Zack  Bottom, 
<a  negro  servant  who  had  been  partly  raised  among  the  In- 
dians), and  a  few  other  compmicrs,  Wtrt  out  icn  a  hunt- 
ing and  pleasure  trip,  higher  up  Red  River,  pitching  camp 
on  a  small  stream — Sowell  says     Glass     Creek— presumably 


SCAI-PIN<3    OF   Wll-BARGER 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  113 

in  the  upper  portion  of  what  is  noyr  Graysoai  eoainty. 

They  had  been  here  several  weeks  ujadistoirbed,  wbea 
they  became  careless  and  scattered,  as  each  saw  fit,  from 
day  to  day,  to  hunt.  On  such  an  occasion,  when  none  but 
the  elder  Martin,  the  little  negro,  amd  Bottom,  the  servant, 
were  in  camp,  a  party  of  Indians  suddenly  attacked  them, 
killed  the  Judge  and  megro  boy — "because  he  fou/ght  so 
desperately  aiod  screamed!  so  loud" — plumdered  the  eamp  and 
retreated.  Zack  Bottom,  the  old  servant,  escaped,  barefooted, 
and  eventually,  after  much  suffering  and  almost  famished, 
reached  the  settlemeints. 

The  othjeir  members)  of  the  party,  iancluding  Martim's 
son,  it  appears,  diiscovered  the  Indians  after  the  killing  and, 
as  th«y  were  retreating,  in  this  way:  while  on  the  prairie- 
divide  betweem  th^e  Washita  and  Red  Rivers,  .they  moticed  a 
hesrd  of  excited  buffalo  coming  over  the  rddge  and  at  oaice  sus- 
pected they  were  disturbed  by  Indians.  As  they  reached 
the  top  of  the  ridge  the  Indians  were  in  full  view  and  not 
far  away.  Cutting  loose  their  buffalo  meat  and  game,  they 
ran  at  full  speed  for  Red  River,  and  all  effected  their  escape 
and  made  their  way  to  the  settlements — all  save  young  Mar- 
tin, who  became  separated  and  was  soon  overtaken  and  cap- 
tured. 

Writing  from  the  mouth  of  False  Washita.,  July,  1834, 
Catlin,  the  artist,  says:-  "Th'C  cruel  fate  of  Judge  Martin 
and  family  has  been  published  in  the  papers,  and  it  belongs 
to  the  regiment  of  dragooais  tJo  demand  the  surrender  of  the 
murderers  and  get  for  the  information  of  the  world,  some 
authentic  account  of  the  mode  in  which  this  horrible  out- 
rage was  committed. 

"Judge  Martin  was  a  very  respectable  and  independent 
man,  living  on  the  lower  part  of  Red  River,  and  in  the 
babit  of  takimg  his  children,  and  one  or  two  servants  with 
him,  and  a  tent  to  live  in,  every  summer,  into  the  wild  re- 
gions, where  he  pitched  his  tent  upon  the  prairie  and  spent 
several  months  in  ki  ling  buffalo  and  other  wild  ,game  for  his 
own  private  amusement.  The  news  came  to  Fort  Gibson, 
but  a  few  weeks  before  we  started,   that   he    had   been   set 


114  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

upom  by  a  party  of  Imdians,  and  destroyed.  A  detachment  of 
troops  was  speedily  sent  to  the  spot,  where  they  fonnd  his 
body  horribly  mangkd,  and  also  one  of  his  negroes;  and  it 
i^^'  supposed  that  his  son,  a  fine  boy  of  nine  years  of  age, 
had  been  taken  home  to  their  villages  by  them,  where  they 
still  retain  him,    and    where  it  is  our  hope  to  recover  him. 

"Camp  Washita,  July  4,  1834.  Gen.  Leiavenwotrth  de- 
clares his  intention  of  sending  Col.  Dodge  with  250  mem 
to  the  Pawnee  village. 

''Under  the  protection  of  the  United  States  dragoons,  I 
arrived  at  this  place  three  days  since  on  my  way  again  ioi 
s-earch  of  the  'Far  West.'  How  far  I  may  this  time  fol- 
low the  flying  phantom,  is  uncertain.  I  am  already  again 
in  the  land  of  the  buffalos  and  the  fleet  bounding  ante- 
lopes. We  are  at  this  place  on  the  banks  of  Red  River, 
having  Texas  under  our  eye  on  the  opposite  ba-nk.  We  aire 
■encamped  om  tbe  ground  on  which  Judge  Martin  and  servaait 
were  biutchered,  and  hisi  son  kidnapped  by  the  Pawnees  co* 
Comanches,  but  a  few  weeks  since;  and  the  moment  they 
discove(r  us  in  a  'large  body,  they  will  presume  that  we  aire 
relentles'sly  seeking  for  revenge,  and  they  will  probably  be 
very  shy  of  our  approach.  We  are  ■ove<r  the  Washita — the 
'Rubicon  is  passed' — we  are  invaders  of  a  siacred  soil.  We 
aire  earirying  the  war  im  our  front,,  and  'we  shall  soon  see 
what  we  shiaill  see.' 

"Jully  22. —  At  the  Toy  ash  village,  Col.  Dodge  and  sev- 
eral of  his  officers  met,  agreeably  to  previous  notice  ,  the 
Toyash  chiefs  and  waiririors  in  council.  Council  being  in  or- 
der, Col.  Dodge  proceeded  to  speak  as  foUows: — 'We  are 
the  first  American  officers  who  have  ever  come  to  see  the 
Pawnees ;  we  meet  you  as  friends,  not  as  enemies,  to  make 
peace  with  you,  to  shake  hands  with  you.  The  great  Amer- 
ican captain  is  at  peace  with  all  the  white  men  in  the  world ; 
he  wishes!  to  be  at  peae©  with  all  the  red  men  in  the  world ; 
we  have  been  sent  to  view  this  country,  and  to  invite  you  to 
go  to  Washington,  where  the  great  American  chief  lives,  to 
make  a  treaty  with  him,  that  you  may  learn  how  he  wishes 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  115 

to  send  among  you  traders,  who  will  bring  you  guns  and 
blankets,  and  everything  that  you  want.' 

"As  the  coiuncil  p'rO'Ceeded  Dodge  referred  to  the  foul 
killing  of  Judge  Martin,  and  the  capture  of  his  little  son — 
also  the  capture  of  one  Abbe,  a  ranger,  the  previous  year. 
Evading  reply  as  to  the  killing  of  Martin,  the  chief,  Wa- 
ter-ra-shah-ro,  a  vesry  dignified  warrior  of  more  than  sev- 
enty yeairs,  reipliedj  thait  he  haid  learned  'the  Indians  wIm) 
lived  near  St.  Antonio,'  in  Mexico  (Texas),  captured  Abbe, 
and  that  they  killed  him  on  Red  River;  the  white  boy  is 
here.'  To  which  Col,  Dodge  replied:  'I  wish  the  boy 
brought  to.  me,'  at  the  sam.e  time  informing  the  chiefs  that, 
ss  an  evidence  of  his  friendly  intentions  towards  them,  he 
had  on  starting,  purchased  at  a  very  great  price,  from  their 
enemies,  the  Osages,  two  Pawnee  and  one  Kiowa,  giirls, 
which  had  been  held  by  them  some  time  as  prisoners ;  and 
which  he  had  there  ready  to  delive(r  to  theiir  frie<njds  and 
relatives,  in  exchange  for  white  prisoners  held  b.y  the  Paw- 
nees. The  little  boy  was  now  brougM  in  from  the  middle  of 
a  eoa-'U'  field  wheire  tliej^  had  hid  him.  The  little  fellow^  wais 
entirely  naked,  except  the  scant  dress  worn  by  the  childr-em. 
0^  the  tiriibe.  He  was  a  very  bright  and  intelligent  lad  of 
eight  or  nine  summers.  His  appeaTance  caused  considerable 
excitemieoit  and  commotion  in  the  council  iroom,  and  asi  the 
little  fellow  gazed  around  in  great  suirpirdse,  he  exclaimed, 
'Whait;  ar>3  there  white  men  here?'  to  which  Col.  Dodge  re- 
plied by  asking  him  his  name — 'IMatthew  Wright  Ivlartin' — 
was  the  prompt  reply.  He  was  then  'received  into*  the  arms 
of  Col.  Dodge,  and  the  captive  India^n  giirls  birciught  iai  and 
sioon  recoigized  by  their  oveirjoyed  friends  and  relatives,  who 
embraced  them  with  the:  mosit  extiravagant  expressions  of  joy. 
Froan  this  moment  the  council,  which  before  had  been^  a  very 
grave  and  uncertain  one,  took  a  pleasin^g  and  friendly  turn. 
TJie  heart  of  the  venerabilie  O'ld'  chief  was  melted  at  the  evi- 
den^ce  of  the  white  maai'si  frie'ndship.  He  at  once  embraced 
Col.  Dodge  and  each  of  the  officers  in  turn,  with  tears 
sttreaming  down  his  cheeks. ' ' 

FWither  quotimg  Cart:lin:  "August^  13th.  *  *  *  reached  tlie 


116  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

settlements  at  the  north  fork  of  tbe  Canadian  *  *  *  inf otrmed. 
by  a  citizen,  that  th-e  mothier  of  little  Martin  has  recently  of- 
fered) $2,000  for  his  recoviery ;  she  will  soon  be  made  happy 
by  his  irestoiration,  without  ransom    or    reward. 

"The  little  boy  of  whom  I  have  spoken,  was  broujght  in, 
the  whoile  distance  to  Fort  Gibsoo,  in  the  arms  of  the  dra- 
gooEs,  who  took  turns  in  carrving  him;  and  after  the  com- 
mand reached  there,  he  was  transmitted  to  the  Red  River 
settlements  by  an  officer,  who  had  the  eaaiviable  satisfactiotn 
of  deliverimg  him  intoi  the  arms  of  his  disoo-nsolate  and  half- 
distraoted  mother."* 

Thus  we  hiav-e  ithct  true  versiooi  of  Judge  Martini *s  death 
land  the  rescue  0|f  his  little  son  from  captivity  —  honoring 
thotse  to  "whoon  homor  is  due.  Other  matters  co/-iincideint  with 
and  focrttniiEig  a  pairt  Oif  the  sad  story,  though  without  concert 
of  acticia  or  'knowledge  of  results,,  have  moit  beein  noiticed. 
We  (reletr  to  'axi  lexpediticm  or  party  of  neighbors  amd  isettlers 
lead  by  Gaptiaiin  Stiles,  amd  which  left  for  the  scene  of  the 
tragedy,  amd  in  search  lOf  the  captured  son,  soon  after  the 
Siad  news  reached  the  settlelment.  Brief  kmowHedge  of  the 
anoivememts  of  this  fearless  little  party  of  sett'ers,  boldly 
peinetrait'inig  f>air  imto  the  country  Oif  immierous  hctstile  bainds 
<aaid  tribeis,  is  obtained  from  an  unpublished]  narrative  pre- 
pared by  John  Henry  Brown  from  data  supplied  by  Geo.  W. 
Wright,  ome  of  the  party,  afterward  a  prominent  citizen  and 
representative,  amd  a  bnoitheir  d  Mrs.  IMartim,  the  aceoumt, 
however,  aHl  too  l>rief  and  lacking  dates  and  details: 

"Omi  learb'mi?  of  the  murder  of  Judge  Mantin  land  the 


♦  Judge  Martin  left  a  widow,  who  afterward3  married  a  Dr.  Bason,  and  two  sons. 
Matthew  W.  and  William,  and  one  daughter,  Louisiana.  Both  the  sons  made  good  citizens, 
and  the  daughter  a  most  estimable  lady. 

Among  the  traditions  of  the  Wright  family,  is  a  story  that  while  residing  at  Pecan 
Point,  to  avoid  night  attacks  from  the  Indians,  the  family  would  move  across  the  river  each 
night  and  secrete  themselves  until  morning,  when  they  would  all  return  to  the  cabin.  The 
ferry  consisted  of  drift  logs  lashed  together  as  a  raft.  The  mother  and  daughter  (after- 
wards wife  of  Judge  Martin)  and  a  negro  girl  were  placed  upon  the  raft,  which  waa  then 
towed  across  the  river  by  the  older  brother  and  father  swimming  by  the  side  of  it  and  pull- 
ing it  along  with  them,  while  the  two  smaller  boys,  Travis  G.,  and  George  W.,  (afterwards 
prominent  citizens  of  Paris,  Texas)  swam  along  behind  the  raft,  holding  on  to  it.  To  pre- 
vent the  children  talking  and  attracting  the  attention  of  the  Indiana,  they  were  always k^t 
separated  in  the  cane.— "Encyclopedia  of  the  New  West."  p.  372. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  117 

capture  of  little  Matthew  Wrigfiit  MaTitdm,  tiidrty  br.avie  m-en,' 
asseimble'd,  chose'  Captiain  Rdchardi  Stileis  as  it'h>eir  lea-d'cr,  and: 
gTiad«ed  by  Hardy,  the  coLoired'  unain,  repadred  l-o  the  caanp,' 
buTded  Judge  JMiamtiOi  amd  th^e  little  coiLoired  boy,  and  them, 
foillowied  <m  :th&  itrail  o'f  tbe  ImdrlianiSt — ^how  far  amd  umder 
what  cQircuinstaaices,  do-es  not  clear  y  appear.  It  is'  certain, 
however,  that  north  of  Red  River  and  west  of  the  Washita, 
tihiey  emcoiunteired  a  lairg^e  party  of  Indians  and  were  com- 
pel ed  to  fight  heavy  odds,  itn  which  th.ey  defended' 
themgclves  with  the  loss  of  one  man  and  one  horse  killed, 
and  one  man  had  a  thigh  broken.  Though  more  or  less  an- 
noyed by  the  enemy  they  retreated  to,  and  crossed  the 
Washita,  near  whic'h  they  fell  in  with  Capt.  Dean  in  com- 
mand 0^^  a  company  of  United  States  dragoons,  with  whom 
they  camped  for  several  days,  and  then  returned  home. 

** The  wouinded  imiani  wias  taken  in  charge  by  the  U.  S. 
surgeon,  conveyed  to  Fort  Gibson  and  recovered;  but  Mr. 
Wright  failed  to  give  either  his  name,  that  of  the  man 
killed,  or  of  any  other  of  the  thirty  one  men,  excepting 
Capt.  Stiles  and  himself.  In  my  view  of  pioneer  life  each  of 
those  men  was  a  hero  and  entitled  tO'  be  so  remetmbered.' 
Doubtlesis  scm©  oif  their  chiildTeini  amd  grandchildreni  are  inf 
the  country  mow  tatnd  iigmorant  of  these  tlhiiingis,  Soich  is  fate. 
Aggregate  achievebnents  amd  deeds  of  the  many,  as  too  much 
professed  history  goes,  are  awarded  to  a,  lucky  few.  Not/ 
truly,  by  design,  but  by  a  carelessness  almost  criminal,  in 
not  giving,  after  so  great  a  lapse  of  time,  the  names  of  the 
men  composing  such  daring  parties  in  those  early  days.  Mr. 
Wright  wrote  in  '74  of  this  daring  expedition  in  '34,  in 
which  he  participated ;  yet  he  failed  to  name  a  single  com- 
rade, fix  a  single  date,  the  number  of  days  occupied  in 
any  portion  or  all  of  the  expedition,  or  to  definitely  fix  a 
single  locality  that  could  be  identified.  Had  he  wrfi.tteoi  e«air- 
lier,  Mis  narrative  wonild  have  supplied  these  omissions,  for 
he  was  a  clear  headed,  just  man,  personally  familiar  with 
the  settlement  of  that  country  frotm  its  imception  omiwiard: 
Fnomii  Mr.  Roibe-rt  'E.  Frlazier,  I  have  learned  that  'Hardy,* 
the  brave  old  Indian-trained  negro,  was  the  guide,  and  that 


118  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Zack  Bottom,  who   escaped  when  Martin  was  killed,  was  in 
it,  as  I  am  quite  sure  the  ever  faithful  Henry  Stout  was." 


FRONTIER  TROUBLES. 

"We  cannot  better  close  the  inaririatacin  of  events  oif  iborder 
:warfare  in  1884,  than  .by  the  introdiuctiicm  of  'a  liig'hly  imterest- 
inig  liettei''  penned  by  ome  of  ithei  elarly  piomelefrisi  —  Johin  T; 
Townserd,  and  addressed  to  the  old  ranger  chief,  Capt. 
John  S.  Ford.  The  letter  is  quite  reminiscent,  and  sheds 
much  light  on  the  frontier  history  of  Texas  at  that  early 
day — ^antiicapatJng  briefly,  as  it  idoe;S(,  isiome  otf  the  thnilling* 
eveinit,s  tliat  wilLl  be  marilatied  iin  idet.ail,  ,in  the  order  of  their 
OKJCurpeince.    But  to  itihe  letter: 

-  Eajgle  Pass,  Te^xas,  Jan.  20,  1893. 
Col.  John  S.  Ford;  .  Dear  Sir:— 

Remembering  your  request  for  something  in  regard  to 
events  of  olden  times  in  Texas;  and  being  somewhat  inarem- 
i^nisctent  rmooidl  'aftea*  m'eetimig  .a'njdl  icionversimg  wdth  sotoeof  the 
•d'esictiniddnts  here  at  Itiie  oMiest  setitlers  oif  Tiexas,  I  winiite  you. 
a  s'bort  istatcimitot  c^f  scime'  ingtable  in.cide(nts  tha,t  I  h;avie! 
mever  kfnownn  pubLil.^lhed  .imi  amy  Texas  history. 

Iin.  1834  of  1835i,  I  aim  al'most  sure  the  laltteir,  the  Cctm- 
anches  came  down.  They  passed  our  settlement  on  Cum- 
mings'  Creek  on  their  way  down.  In  Austin  county,  on 
Miill  Creek,  they  stole  sconiei  hiorseis.  The  Americans  collect- 
ed to  follow  them.  My  father,  Stephen  Townsend,  and  his 
brothers  accompanied  them  in  the  pursuit.  They  left  my 
mother,  a  sister  of  mine,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Hon.  James 
C.Gaither  of  Falls  eounty,  myself,  a  neigro  wcimafn  aind  heir 
lilttle  sc|n,  twio  or'  thnee  yeairs  old.  The  Americans  had  left 
my  grandfather's,  John  G.  Robinson's,  three  or  four  miles 
distant  from  us,  a  few  days  previoujsly,  amd  we  were  at  the 
Robinson  place.  My  mother  and  grandmother,  feeling  as- 
sured that  the  Texans  were  between  ns  and  all  danger  from 
the  Indians,  sent  the  negro  woman  to  our  plaoe  ^or  some 
iclothes.  She  carried  her  little  boy  with  her.  On  her  return 
the  Indians  met  her  on  the  road,  killed  her,  amd  carried 'Off 
the  negro  boy  as   a  prisoner.     Thev  opened  the  bundle  she 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  119 

was  ■carrying'  but  took  nothing  from  it.  This  occurred  ex- 
actly on  the  spot  where  the  towoaj  of  Ro<uiii;d!  Tofp,  Fayette 
county,  now  stands.  The  bones  of  the  negr'o  womam  lie  Hin- 
der an  oak  tree  near  the  center  of  the  town.  This  occurred 
previous  to  1836. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Thrall  in  his  history  of  Texas,  gives  a 
very  short  account  of  my  grandfather  and  his  brother,  Wal- 
ter Robinson,  being  killed  in  the  sprirg  of  1837.  Judge 
Sam  Lucky,  who  died  in  your  city,  San  Antonio,  was  once 
chief  justice  of  that  county,  and  aho  represented  it  in  the 
ocinigiieiss  of  the  Texas  Repiu/bUe.  Ke  came  from  Oeorgia 
with  Walter  Robinson,  and  was  at  my  grand  father's  house 
when  the  killing  took  place. 

"He  wais  a  gentleanam  oif  labijlity  amid'  umdouibted  eoiurage. 
He  was  one  of  Colonel  Jack  Hays'  company  of  rangers. 
When  Col.  Hays  was  sent  forward  to  bring  on  an  engage- 
ment with  the  Mexicans  under  General  Woll,  Judge  Lucky 
was  shot  through  the  body.  He  lived  a  number  of  years 
afterwards,  but  never  recovered  frcan  itlie  effects  cif  the 
wound.  The  Authoress  of  "Beulah"  and  other  works, 
Mrs.  Augusta  J.  Evans,  was  his  niece.  She  was  one  time  a  res- 
ident of  San  Antonio. 

Joel  W.  Robinson  was  one  of  the  party  which  captured 
General  Santa  Anna  the  day  after  the  battle  of  San  Jacin- 
to and  delivered  him  to  General  Sam  Houston.  He  lived  to 
a  good,  ripie  old  age.  He  was  respected  by  all  classes  of 
Texas  citizens. 

Another  matter  happened  noit  far  ;frc|m  thie  time  mctn- 
tioned  above.  There  lived  about  sixty  miles  below  La 
Grainge,  a  mam  naimed  Ross.  He  traded  with  the  Tonka- 
way  Indians  for  horses  they  stole  from  the  Comanche  In- 
dians. Tliis  was  the  ca.uise  of  trouble  between  the  white  set- 
tlers and  the  Comanches,  and  was  considered  the  cause  of 
those  Indians  becoming  hostile.  Ross  paid  very  little  for 
a  horse.  He  carried  them  to  the  United  States  and  sold 
them.  He  came  back  with  goods  and  sold  them  at  immense 
profits  to  the  Tonkaways.  In  their  war  with  the  Com- 
anches they  had  not  been  successful,  and  had  been  so  weak- 


120  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

€D€d  by  losses  that  th€y  came  insid'C  the  Texas  settlements 
for  protection  from  their  enemies.  They  had  a  permanent 
camp  near  Ross'  place.  A  crowd  of  from  thirty  to  eighty 
men  was  raised.  They  intended  to  drive  away  the  Tonka- 
ways,  and  to  notify  them  to  stop  th^e  theft  of  Comanche 
horses  for  the  reasons  already  set  forth.  Ross  was  drink- 
ing when  they  approached  his  house.  He  was  a  reckless, 
desperate  man.  He  began  firing  on  the  Americans  as  they 
came  within  rifle  distance.  He  continued  to  do  so  until  shot 
down.  My  father  and  grandfather  wer€  with  the  company 
of  Americans,  but  took  no  hand  in  killing  Ross.  This  af- 
fair occurred  in  1834.  Despera;te  as  tbe  r^ontedy  was,  it 
failed  to  cure  the  disease.  The  Comanches  had  become  so 
incensed  that  they  proceeded  at  cintce  to  stealing  horses  and 
killing  men  and  women  wherever  they  found  them  unpro- 
tected. Up  to  this  time  they  had  beem  frdeffidly  with  th,e 
whites  or  at  least  inoffensive.  This  state  of  things  continued 
until  long  after  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States. 
In  fact,  until  Texas  become  suffickaitly  setrtlied  bjy  Afenerdcamjs 
to  enable  them  to  protect  themselves. 

One  of  the  movements  d'eterioig  the  lEdiaans  froon  S'etnd- 
ing  expeditions  into  Texas  was  the  killing  off  of  the  numer- 
ous herds  of  buffalo  grazing  upon  the  staked  plains.  When 
the  outside  world  became  consoiotus  that  thei  slaoightercaiig  of 
buffado  was  going  foanvard,  amd  was  peiptetrated  omly  for 
the  iskims,  thiei  bodies  being  left  nimtouched  to  become  food  for 
the  wolves  or  to  rot,  the  conductors  of  newspapers  denounc- 
ed the  proceediug  as  cruel  and  inhuman.  The  writer  look- 
ed at  results  from  a  different  standpoint.  The  Comanches 
ha-d  been  enabled  to  use  the  buffalo  in  their  robbing  expedi- 
tions upon  the  people  of  Texas.  If  these  animals  were 
some  distance  from  a  settlememt,  they  werei  drivcoi  down 
the  country  a  proper  distance  and  left  to  graze.  The  red 
gentlemen  could  tell  pretty  wleill  where  the  drove  eauld  be 
found  in  a  given  number  of  days.  They  would  visit  the  set- 
tlements, murder  and  rob.  When,  they  netUTHeid,  they  travell- 
ed at  great  speed  until  the  herd  of  buffalo  was  reached.  At 
that  point  they  would  eat,  sleep  and  recruit.     After  the  ani- 


BOEDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  121 

mals  had  been  slaughtered,  th€  Comanches  had  no  commis- 
sariat. Th€  journey  to  a  settlement  was  long  and  tedious 
with  but  littlt  to  eat  on  the  way.  After  ith&  advena/t  of  the 
cattlemen  it  was  a  hazardous  undertaking.  Brave  men  with 
repeating  rifles  and  pistols  stood  in  the  way.  The  destruc- 
tion of  the  vast  herds  of  buffalo  effected  as  much  for  the 
security  of  Texas  as  a  large  standing  army  across  the 
country  from  the  Red  River  to  the  Rio  G<raaide,  oofuld  havie 
done. 

For  many  years  we  confidently  expected  the  Comanches 
to  2ome  among  us  every  full  mocai,  m  comsequetice  Oif  which, 
every  man  who  had  any  patriotism,  prepared  hflm»elf  ajad 
was  ready  at  a  moments  warning  to  go    after  them. 

There  wasi  a  small  remannt  of  a  tribe  led  and  controlled 
by  a  very  sensible  Indian,  named  Canoma,  who  always  held 
himself  ready  to  serve  the  whites  as  guide  and  spy.  He 
was  not  to  be  found  on  one  occasion,  when  the  Americans 
were  going  out  on  a  campaign  against  the  Comanches.  Af- 
ter they  had  gone  some  distance  they  found  Canoma  with 
some  horses  that  had  been  stolen.  He  declared  that  he  had 
taken  them  from  the  Comanches  and  intended  to  return 
them  to  their  owners.  He  icsisted  that  if  the  Americans 
would  give  him  a  chance  he  would  take  them  to  the  Com- 
anches and  thus  demonstrate  hisi  iinauocfeaitce.  As  is  ofiteoi  the 
case,  some  of  the  Americans  were  so  incensed  that  they 
killed  Canoma.  Some  of  the  men  on  the  spot — my  father 
and  John  Rabb — were  among  those  who  opposed  the  killing. 
"When  they  found  it  impossible  to  prevent  it  they  left  the 
company  rather  than  witness  whait  they  deem;ed  murder.  I 
have  often  heard  them  speak  of  it  when  I  was  a  boy  with 
the  deepest  regret.  Joho  T.  Toiw/nseffid. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


lEWED  frcwn  the  historian's  standpoint, 
1835  marks  a  most  important  ep'Och^ — the 
great  turning  point  in  the  history  of  Tex- 
as. The  revolution  that  achieved  Texas  in- 
■dcpendcsiee  begacni  in  this  year^ — n.ot,  how- 
ever, with  that  end  in  view,  but  as  a  move- 
Tiient  to  overthrow  the  despotism  estab- 
lished by  Santa  Anma  and  to  restore  eonsti- 
tutLonal  government.  So  distinguished  a 
writer  as  Ex-President  Roiosevelt  has  fallen  into  the  error 
of  charging  that  the  separation  of  Texas  from  Mexico,  was 
deliberately  planned  by  the  restless  and  resistless  Amierican 
settlers.  The  people  of  Texas  did  not  make  the  issue.  It 
was  foTce'd  upcoi  tihem.  They  had  to  choose  between  resist- 
ance, (or  subonission  to  a  tyrany — to  free-born,  liberty-lov- 
ing Americans — worse  than  deatli.  Referrimg  to  the  cotn- 
quest  of  Texas,  ]\Ir.  Roosev'clt  isitrikes  the  key  note  of  tiruth, 
however,  when  he  says:  "The  Govepnimeinit  of  the  Umited 
States  had(  nothmg  to  do  witii  winning  Texas  for  the  Eng- 
lish-ispeakitng  people  of  Nortlh  America.  Tihe  Americaji  friooit- 
iersimieai  wom  Texas'  foir  theraiselves,  uinaided  eifther  by  states- 
meo  who  ccjitrcllled  fh'e  politics  of  the  Republic,  or  iby  the 
soldiers  wilio  took  tlieiir  orders  froan  Washimgtotn."* 


»  Theodore  Roosevelt's  "The  Winning  of  the  West.  "    Page  186. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  123 

**A  self-reiiant  people,"  sayia  Thrall,  "whose  iaterests 
and  liberties  are  imperiled,  will  inot  lomj  lack  the  meaais  nec- 
essary for  conicert  cif  acticm.  Texas  was  threatened  with 
inviasion  by  a  governimeaut  to  which  it  had  a  right  to  look 
ioT  proteotion.  Again,  the  Indians  were  miore  or  less  tr'oub- 
lesome.  OstecQsiibly  to  provide  fo-r  prtotection  agaioisit 
tbese  savages,  committees  of  safety  w^ere  organized  m  dif- 
ferent municipalities.  It  was  the  business  of  these  comlmit- 
tees  to  collect  and  disseminate  informatiion,  to  secure  arms 
and  ammunition,  and  in  case  of  necessity,  to  ca'l  out  and 
drill  the  militia."* 

In  presenting  the  facts  leading  up  tO'  the  revolutioai, 
hisitorian  Brfown,  says:  "The  situation  was  reoidered  miore 
gloomy  by  evidences  iof  increajsed  hostilities  on  the  part  of 
the  savages  alcng  the  whole  line  xyf  frontier  frotm  the  Red 
River  to  the   extremie  southKvest." 


MASSACRE  OF  THE     TRADERS.—  FIGHT 
ON   THE    SAN  MARCOS. 

EoUciwing  the  secomd  and  successful,  settlement  of  Gion- 
zales,  after  its  tragic  breaking  up  in  1826,  the  town  and  -com- 
munity prospered — escaped  further  serious  incursions ;  the  In- 
dians, over-awed  doubtless  by  the  exhibition  and  occasional 
firing  of  a  four  pound  brass  cannon,**  presented  by  the 
Mexican  authiorities  in  1831,  to  the  citizens  of  that  exposed 
hamlet  for  protection.     As  De Witt's  Colcny  now  gave  evi- 

♦  Prior  to  the  meeting- of  the  Consultation,  the  committee  of  vigilance,  safety  and 
correspondence  at  Nacogdoches,  with  the  central  council,  took  action  to  conciliate  the  civ- 
ilized Indians,  assuring  them  that  the  Consultation  would  recognize  and  safe-guard 
their  rights.  They  also  sent  mounted  rangers  to  the  border  of  the  terrritory  occupied  by 
tne  wild  tribes. 

"Great  uneasinees  was  felt  at  this  time,"  says  Morrell,  "relative  to  Indian  depreda- 
tions. There  were  fears  of  a  general  outbreak,  predicated  upon  the  amount  of  horse 
stealing  going  on  through  the  country  since  the  war  between  the  Americans  and  Mexicans. 
The  Mexicans  were  evidently  encouraging  all  the  v/ild  tribes  to  exterminate  the  colonists. 

"General  Houston  now  had  use  for  all  his  ingenuity  among  the  Indians  to  evade  the 
fatal  catastrophe.  The  war  between  the  Indians  and  colonists  was  also  being  hurried  on  by 
the  land  speculators,  as  their  lands  were  valueless  without  an  increase  of  population  in 
this  Fart  of  the  State,"— Morrell's  "Fruits  and  Flowers,  or  46  Years  in  Texas,"  page  42. 

»  »Thi8  was  the  coveted  gun  demanded  by  Captain  Castenado  in  1835— causing  the  first 
collision  or  opening  flurry  of  the  Texas  War  of  Independence. 


324  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

denee  of  permaiieEey,  settlers  continued  to  arrive,  a  few  af 
the  tnuore  venture&oaii.e  locating  seme  distance  out,  westward 
— greatly  expoised  t©  numerou  s  hostile  bands  of  Indians  con- 
stantly visiting  that  section.  As  these  incursions  wer^  gen- 
erally from  the  iwest,  these  intrepid  pioneers  bore  tbe  same 
relations  as  the  advance-guard  of  ao  army,  receiving  the 
first  blow  or  warning;  and,  on  swift  horses,  alarming  the 
people  farther  east  of  the  threatened  raid,  or  approachiaag 
danger. 

"In  the  autumn  of  1833,"  says  John  Henry  Bro\ATi, 
"John  Castleman,  a  bold  and  sagacious  backwoodsmar,  from 
the  borders  of  Missouri,  ,\\nth  his  wifie  aoid  four  children,  and 
his  wife's  mother,  settled  fifteen  miles  west  of  Oonzales,  on 
Sandy  Creek,  on  the  Sam.  Antcnio  road.  He  "was  a  boJd 
hunter,  much  in  the  forest,  and  had  four  ferocious  dogs, 
which  served  as  sentinels  at  night,  and  on  one  occasion 
had  a  terrible  fight  with  a  number  of  Indians  who  were  m 
the  yard  endeavoring  to  steal  horses  tied  around  the  house. 
The  dogs  evidently  inflicted  severe  punishment  oo  the  sav- 
ages, who  left  abundant  blood  marks  on  the  ground,  an-dJ 
were  glad  to  escape  Avithout  the  horses.  In  doing  so,  in 
sheer  se'f  defense,  the  Indians  killed  the  dogs.  Castleman,  in 
lis  wanderings,  was  ever  watchful  for  indications  of  Indians, 
and  thus  served  as  a  vidette  to  the  people  of  Gonzales  and 
persoms  traveling  en  that  exposed  road.  Many  were  the 
persons  who  slumbered'  under  his  roof  rath^er  than  camp 
iout  at  that  noted  watering  place." 

One  afternoon  in  the  spring  of  1835,  Geser,  a  French 
trader,  his  two  partners,  and  ten  Mexican  cart  drivers  and 
muleteers  arrived  at  Castleman 's*.  Inquiring  for  a  suitable 
camping  place,  they  were  i>ointed  to  a  large  pool  of  water 


♦  The  two  principal  authorities  on  this  affair  are  at  variance  on  some  minor  details. 
BrowB  says  the  caravan  was  from  Natchitoches,  Louisiana,  enroute  to  Mexico,  and  arrived 
in  the  forenoon.  Sowell,  on  the  authority  of  his  father,  Asa  J.  Sowell,  and  four  uncles,  An- 
drew, WiDiam,  Lewis  and  John,  all  early  and  prominent  pioneer  settlers  in  and  around 
Gonzales,  previous  to,  and  at  the  time  of  the  tragic  occurrence,  affirms  the  party  reached 
Castleman's  "just  before  sundown,  with  a  lar^e  lot  of  costly  goods  brought  from  Mexico, 
and  were  going  east  among  the  American  settlers  to  dispose  of  them." 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  125 

not  J'ar  frcm  thie  htouse,  but  at  the  same  time,  Castleman  in- 
formed themj  he  hadi  tliat  morniiig  discovered)  eiigns  of  Indiana 
•neiarby,  and  advised  the  traders  they  had  best  camp  by  his 
house — ''I  have  plenty  <of  wood  and  water,  and  you  can 
have  all  ytou  need ;  you  will  be  safe,  as  my  house  is  enclosed 
by  strong  palisades,  and  in  case  of  tnouble,  you  can  come 
inside  and  I  will  help  you  tio  defend  yourselves  and  your 
property."  Thanking  the  settler  for  his  generous  hospital- 
ity, and  assurinig  him  they  weie  well  armed  and  could  de- 
fend themselves  in  case  of  an  attack,  they  moved  to  the 
water-hole,  unpacked,  makiing  the  usual  preparations  for 
the  night,  and  retired — little  thmking  they  were  sleeping 
to  their  awful  doom  at  the  morrow's  dawn. 

Castlemian,  tco,  making  everything  secure  for  the  night, 
retired,  but  not  without  apprebeU'Sive  forebodings  of  dan- 
ger. Just  at  daylight  he  was  aroused  by  the  firing  of  guns 
axid  the  yelling  of  Indians  in  the  direction  of  the  pool. 
Hastily  spriaging  out  of  bed  and  clotliiin'g  himself,  he  un- 
barred a  small  port-hole  like  window  and  looked  out.  The 
traders  had  improvised  breastworks  of  their  carts,  packsad- 
dles,  and  bales  of  goods,  and  were  fighting  with  great  des- 
peration,— the  loud  and  regular  reports  of  their  escopetas 
(smooth-bore  cavalry  guns)  ringing  out  and  commingling 
with  the  exultant  yells  of  the  savages,  on  the  crisp  morning 
air.  The  sun  ariose  and  still  the  fight  raged,  lasting  some 
four  hours^ — the  Indians  charging  in  a  circle,  firing  and  fall- 
ing back.  Again  and  again  was  this  repeated,  narrowing 
the  circle  each  time ;  the  traders  as  often  repelling  the  at- 
tack with  'Considerable  loss  to  the  enemy.  But  the  besieged 
had  also  sustained  loss  and  were  despairing.  Taking  advan- 
tage of  this  fact,  and  rendered  the  more  desperate  by  their 
own  losses,  the  infuriated  Comanches  now  made  a  combined 
and  determined  onslaught  from  three  sides — ^maneuvering 
so  as  to  draw  the  fire  of  all  the  party  simultaneously,  and 
leaving  them  unloaded,  when  they  rushed  in  and  with  ex- 
ultant yelils,  fell  upon  and  soon  despatched  their  victims. 

Witnessing  this  last  charge   from   his   window,    Castle- 


126  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

man,*  it  is  said,  drew  a  long  breath,  excitedly  exclaiming: 
"They  are  goU'el  wife,  that  charge  will  wind  them  up,  those 
whoops  are  for  victory."  It  was  so — a  short  haaid'  to  hand 
struggle  and  all  was  over. 

After  scalping  and  mutilating  their  victims,  disposing 
of  their  own  dead,  and  packing  all  the  booty  they  cared 
for  on  their  horses  and  the  captured  mules,  the  victorious 
Comanches  leisurely  moved  off  up  the  country.  Castlemaoi 
said  he  counted  eighty  warriors  as  they  slowly  passed  in. 
single  file,  each)  shaking  his  lance  or  shield  at  his  house, 
but  making  no  further  demooistrations. 

"As  soon  as  he  thought  it  was  safe  after  the  Indians 
left,"  says  Sowell,  "Castleman  visited  the  battle  ground. 
It  was  a  terrible  sight;  the  Mexicans  had  piled  up  their 
goods,  saddles  and  other  cainiD  equipage  around  them,,  and 
the  whole  surrounded  by  their  carts.  Inside  this  little 
square  or  circle,  they  lay  horribly  mutilated  and  drenched 
in  blood.  Geser  had  many  wounds  on  him  and  had  evi- 
dently fought  bravely,  and  exposed  his  person  more  than 
any  of  fhe  others. 

"The  ground  was  almost  covered  with  arrows,  some  bro^ 
ken,  others  transfixed  in  boxes,  saddles  and  carts.  The  In- 
dians threw  their  dead  in  the  pool  of  water — how  many  could 


♦  "Castleman  could,"  says  Brown,  "many  times,  have  killed  an  Indian  with  his  trusty 
rifle  from  his  cabin  window,  but  was  restrained  by  his  wife,  who  regarded  the  destruction 
of  the  strangers  as  certain,  and  contended  that  if  her  husband  took  part,  vengeance  would 
be  wreaked  upon  the  family— a  hundred  savages  against  one  man.  He  desisted,  but  as  his 
wife  said,  'frothed  at  the  mouth,'  to  be  restrained  from  action  on  such  an  occasion.  Had 
he  possessed  a  modern  Winchester,  he  could  have  repelled  the  whole  array  and  saved  both 
the  traders  and  their  goods."  To  which  Sowell  adds:  "At  the  foot  of  the  hill,  100  yards  or 
more  from  the  house,  stood  a  large  tree,  upon  which  Castleman  had  tacked  a  piece  of  white 
paper  to  serve  as  a  target  when  he  felt  disposed  to  rifle  practice.  This  paper  caught  the 
eye  of  an  Indian  as  he  was  scouting  around,  separated  from  his  companions,  and  he  came  to 
the  tree  to  see  what  it  was.  The  settler  saw  him,  and  at  once  raised  his  rifle  to  take  aim,  as 
this  was  too  good  a  chance  to  lose  of  killing  an  Indian.  He  had  often  hit  the  paper  target 
at  that  distance.  Before  he  could  flfre,  however,  his  prudent  wife  laid  her  hand  on  the  gun 
and  implored  him  to  desist;  that  if  he  killed  one  of  them,  the  Indians  would  be  almost  sure 
to  attack  the  house,  otherwise  they  might  leave  without  molesting  them.  The  Indian  in 
question  did  not  long  remain  as  a  mark  for  the  pioneer,  for,  as  soon  as  he  discovered  the 
bullet  hales,  in  and  around  the  paper  on  the  tree,  he  turned  and  looked  toward  the  cabin, 
and  taking  in  the  eituation,  ran  behind  the  tree,  and  UBing  it  for  cover,  beat  a  hasty  re- 
•fireat." 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  127 

not  be  ascertained.  There  w^re  many  "bloody  spots  ion  tb© 
ground  outside  of  where  the  Mexicans  lay.  Castleman  now 
returned  to  Ihe  house,  audi  taking  his  family,  hurriedly  de- 
parted for  Gonzales  to  ca.rry  the  news.  The  Indians  went 
back  towards  the  M^est,  and  no  doubt  had  been  on  Geser's 
trail  some  time,  knowing  the  nature  of  the  rich  booty  which 
he  carried.  There  were  no  white  settlements  from  Castle- 
man's  on  to  the  Rio  Grande,  and  over  this  vast  territory 
the  Comanches  then  roamed  at  will,  and  often  captured 
trains  of  Mexican  carts  and  trade  caravans". 


THE  FIGHT  ON  THE  BLANCO. 

The  sequel  to  the  above  tragic  affair  will  now  be  given 
as  condensed  and  reconciled,  from  the  two  principal  ac- 
counts—Brown's and  Sowell's  both  Texas  pioneers,  and  each 
an  acknowledged  authority  on  matters  pertaining  to  our  bor- 
der history.* 

"When  Castleman  reached  feonzales  with  the  news,  it 
spread  .rapidly,  and  by  daylight  on  the  following  morning, 
a  party  of  about  thirty*  men  were  in  the  saddle  and  en- 
route  to  Castleman 's.  Among  these  volunteers  the  follow- 
ing names' — several  of  whom  afterward  won  fame  on  other 
fields,  or  figured  p.rominently  in  the  fiery  history  of  Tex- 
■as> — are  .preserved:  Matthew  ("Old  Paint")  CaldweU, 
Dan  McCoy,  Jesse  McCoy,  James  C.  Darst,  Ezekiel  Wil- 
liams, John  Davis,  "Wash"  Cottle,  Almaroai  Dicfciinson, 
(imiartyr'  of  the  Alamoi) ,  Andrew  J.  Sowell,  Sr.,  Dr.  James 
C.  Miller,  Wm.  S.  Fisher,  (of    Meifr  Expediticm  fame  in  1842) , 


♦  As  in  the  preceding  affair.  Brown  and  Sowell  are  at  variance.  We  prive  preference 
to  the  latter,  since  he  obtained  his  information  from  surviving  participants  in  the  engage- 
ment, supplying  details.  Sowell  says  twenty-seven  men  composed  this  exptdition,  and 
places  them  under  command  of  Bartlett  D.  SIcClure.  Brown  says:  "In  a  few  hours  a  band 
of  29  or  30  volunteers,  under  Dr.  Miller,  were  on  the  trail  and  followed  it  across  the  Guada- 
lupe and  up  the  San  Marcos,  and  finally  into  a  cedar  brake  in  a  valley  surrounded  by  high 
hills,  presumably  on  the  Rio  Blanco";  and  adds,  "This  was  on  the  second  day  after  the  mas- 
sacre." "It  is  painful  to  add,"  continues  Brown,  "that  this  Dr.  Miller,  later  in  the  same 
year,  became  a  tory,  and  left  the  country,  settling  in  Michigan,  never  to  return."  His  name 
hae  sometimes  been  confounded  with  that  of  the  patriotic  Dr.  James  B.  Miller,  of  Fort 
Bend,  long  distinguished  in  public  life  under  the  province  and  Republic  of  Texas. 


128  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

David  Hanna,  Landon  Webster,  Jonathan  Scott,  John  Cat- 
tleman, Tom  Malone,  —  White,  and  Bartlett  D.  McClure — 
the  latter  beinig  chosen  captain. 

T5ie  trail  of  the  Indians  (from  Caatlemaai 's  ramch)  led 
up  the  south  valley  of  the  Guadalupe,  crossing  that  river  at 
a  place  now  called  "Erskdne's  Ford,"  within  the  present  lim- 
its of  Gaudalupe  county,  and  some  twelve  miles  from  Se- 
guin.  After  crossing  Da.rst  Creek,  about  twenty-six  miles 
from  Gonzales,  and  just  below  the  "French  Smith  Ranch," 
the  Indians,  it  seems,  amused  Ihemiselves  by  securing  sipooLs 
o*  thread  to  their  horses'  tails  and  letting  it  unwind  across 
the  flats  and  prairies  as  they  traveled.  The  dropped 
strands  thus  served  the  settlers  to  follow  the  trail  at  a  more 
rapid  gait,  but  the  Indians  evidently  apprehended  no  dan- 
ger of  pursuit.  They  now  bore  to  the  northwest  and  to  the 
headwaters  of  Mill  Creek,  passinjg  out  across  the  York 
Creek  divide.  Though  traveling  slowly  on  account  of  their 
heavy  booty,  the  Indians  moved  steadily  by  day  and  night, 
while  the  pursuers  could  only  keep  the  trail  in  dayliglht — 
**two  ravens,"  says  Sowell,  ''followed  in  the  wake  of  the  In- 
dians picking  up  tho  offal  from  their  camps,  and  would 
fly  up  and  follow  on  at  the  approach  of  the  white  men." 

After  breaking  camp  on  the  third  day  out,  and  sotme 
two  miles  ahead,  the  whites  came  upon  the  first  regular 
camp  of  the  enemy,  on  a  high  ridge,  south  of,  and  over- 
looking, the  present  town  of  San  Marcos,  in  Hays  county, 
and  wheire  in  a  circle  roundl  a  pole,  the  Indians  had  tramp- 
ed down  the  grass — performing  their  customa.ry  scalp  dance, 
the  night  previous. 

From  liere,  the  Indians  having  entered  the  mountains, 
the  trailing  was  more  difficult  and  the  pursuit  slackened, 
the  men  making  their  'last  outward  camp  in  the  bralj.es  of 
the  Rio  Blanco.  The  signs  now  indicated  that  they  were 
close  upon  the  enemy,  causing  the  whites  to  move  with  more 
caution.  Just  las  they  were  enterin,g  a  valley  the  heavy 
morming  foig  lifted,  aind  suddenly  the  yell  of  an  Indian 
was  heaird  on  a  mountain  across  the  river.  Captain  Mc- 
Clure now  ordered  a  rapid  advance,  but  soon  entered]  such 


AD    LAWRENCE'S    FAMO 


US    l_^/ 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  129 

denise  brakes,  they  \r-ere  compelled   to     dismount      (leaviag 
their  horses) ,  anA    pi^oceed  cm  foot.     Scouts  were  now  sent 
forward  to  reoMmak-er,*  while  the     others     slowly     follow- 
i-d  in  single  file,  stooping  and  crawling  as  they  went.     "Pi- 
miailly  they  came  out  into  an  oipeniDg  near  the     rivie.r     where 
three  or  four  could  walk  abreast,  amd  at  this  iinsttant  bamg! 
bang !  camie  the  sharp  report  of  two  .rifles  and  thie  yelling 
of  Indians  neair  at  hand.    'Charge,  boys!'  shouted  Mc  Clure, 
as  he  sprang  in  front.    'Here  they  are!'  Pell-mell,  in  a  foot 
race  that  had  it  been  tian'ed,  might  have  proveid  famous,  came 
the  scouts  closely  pursued  by  a   party    of   yelling   savag'es, 
who  were  pulling  arrows  and  adjusting  them  to  their  bow 
strings.     Springing  to  one  side    as    their    spies    flew    past, 
Captain  McClure  raised  liis  rifle  and  fired  at  the     foremost 
red  skin  to  come  in  range;  Castleman  shot     the     next  one 
who  fell  across  th«  lifeless  body  of  the  first.    Several  other 
shots  were  fired,  and  a  third  Indian  had  his  bow  stick  shot 
in  two  while  in  the  act  of  discharging  an  arrow.    Thus  sur- 
prised, the  other  pursuers  beat  a  hasty  retreat  towardfethe 
river,  yelling  loudly  as  a  warning  signal  to  tlieir  comrades, 
of  the  danger  encountered.    By  this  time  most  of  the  men 
Jiad  gotten  clear  of  the  brush  a<nd  charged  with  their  cap- 
tain across  the  open  ground." 

"Near  the  river"  says  So  well,  "they  met   about     fifty 


JfSowell  saya  two  scouts,  Almaron  Dickinson  and  James  Darst.  were  sent  ahead  to  lo- 
cate the  Indians;  Brown  says  three-Matthew  Caldwell.  Dan  McCoy  and  Ezekiel  Williama 
—went  forward  to  reconnoiter,  and  adds  a  thrilling  and  amusing,  but  conflicting  incident: 
"Following  the  newly  made  path  of  the  Indians  through  the  brake,  in  about  three  hundred 
yards,  they  suddenly  came  upon  them  dismounted  and  eating;  they  speedily  retired,  but 
were  discovered  and,  being  only  three  in  number,  the  whole  crowd  of  ludians  furiously  pur- 
sued them  with  such  yells  as,  resounding  from  bluff  to  bluff,  caused  some  of  the  men  in  am- 
bush to  flee  from  the  apparent  wrath  to  come;  but  of  the  whole  number  of  29  or  30,  sixteen 
maintained  their  position  and  their  senses.  Dan  McCoy,  the  hindmost  of  the  three  scouts  in 
single  file,  wore  a  long-Uiled  coat.  This  was  seized  and  held  by  an  Indian,  but  Old  Dan, 
as  he  was  called,  threw  his  arms  backward  and  slipped  from  the  garment  without  stopping, 

exclaiming,  'Take  it,  d n  you!'     Caldwell  sprang  first  into  the  glade,  wheeled,  fired  and 

killed  the  first  Indian  to  enter.  Others  unable  to  see  through  the  brush  till  exposed  to  view, 
rushed  into  the  trap  till  nina  (?)  warriors  lay  in  a  heap.  Realizing  this  fact,  and  such  un- 
expected fatality,  the  pursuers  raised  that  dismal  howl,  which  means  death  and  defeat,  and 
fell  back  to  their  camp.  The  panic  among  some  of  our  men  prevented  pursuit.  It  is  a  fact 
that  among  those  seized  with  the  'buck  ague.'  were  men  then  wholly  inexperienced,  who 
aubseQuently  became  distinguished  for  coolness  and  braYery." 


130  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Indians,  and  the  figM  became  general.  The  yellimg  of  the- 
Comanehes  almost  d.i^owned  the  report  of  the  firearms,  and 
•echoed  far  up  the  Blanco  valley.  But  the  Indians  so-on. 
gave  wiay,  evidently  fighting  more  in  an  attempt  to  cross 
th'eir  packs  ovei*  the  river.  Another  sharp  fight  took  place 
at  the  river,  some  of  the  Indians  halting  in  th^e  water  to 
shfOot,  hut  the  unerring  rdfles  of  the  whites  again  caused; 
them  to  flee  in  disorder — across  the  river  and  into  the  brakes, 
beyond,  leavitng  most  of  their  spoils." 

Thus  the  whites  were  victo.rious,  without  amy  serious 
or  fatal  caisualities  and  were  glad  enough  to  abandon  the 
pursuit  without  crossing  the  river.  Sowell  says,  "The  In- 
dians made  a  very  poor  fight  and  seemed  rattled  at  the 
very  coammencememt,  shooting  Avild  amd  running  at  every 
volley  from  the  whites.  They  had  evidently  shot  most  of 
their  arrows  in  the  fight  with  the  I^Iexicans.  Those  killeld 
had  but  very  few  in  their  quivers' — some  eveoa  none." 

Regaining  their  horses  amu  carrying  part  of  tihe  more 
valuable  goods,  the  militant  colonists  returned  heme  with- 
out further  incidemt.  The  remaining  spoils  with  many- 
bows,  shields,  blankets  £indl  buffalo  robes  were  cached  on  th& 
bank  of  the  river,  and  a  party  afterAvaid  went  back  fo,r 
them,  but  they  had  been  badly  damegcd  by  sun  vmd  rain. 

MURDER  OF  CANOMA. 

Catching  the  thread  of  narrative,  dropped!  for  the  sake 
of  chronological  oi^dei-  in  1833,  tSlie  reader  will  now  leaiiai  the 
sad  story  of  Chief  Canoma's  fate. 

The  Wacos,  Tehuacanas,  lonies,  Anadarkos,  Tiowash, 
and  other  kindred  tribes  of  the  Caddoan  confederation,  in- 
habiting the  Upper  Brazos  and  1\i-inity  Rivers,  and  known 
as  the  "Wild  tribes,"  were  now  openly  hostile — especially 
toward  the  settlers  of  tIhe  Colo.rado,  regarding  them  as  a 
eeparato  "tribe"  from  the  people  of  the  Brazos.* 

»"In  the  firet  cettlement  of  Auetin'B  colony,"  eaye  Kenney,  "Bome  unscrupuIouB 
white  men  etole  horBee  from  the  Caddoe  and  broujrht  them  into  the  settlement  at  the  'Falls' 
•t  the  Brazoe.    But  the  eettlers  there,  not  reiiehingr  iuch  freebooter  proceedings,  took  the 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  ,  131 

During  the  spring  of  this  year,  the  faitMul  and  intellli- 
gent  old  cTiief,  with  his  band  of  some  thirty  frienldly  Caddos, 
was  still  alboBt  the  settlements,  anjd  village  of  Tenoxtitllan. 
Assured  of  his  faithfu/lness  to  tihe  whites  «aid  appreciatdng 
his  influence  with,  the  wild  tribes,  the  Americans  about  tTie 
"Falls"  employed  Canoma  to  go  amcmg  the  liostiles  acd  in- 
vite  them  to  come  in  for  a  friend/ly  talk  and  treaty;  and 
partieukrly  to  recover  two  white  captives  then  beldi — oliild- 
ren  of  a  Mr.  Ross, 

Catnoma,  leavisng  t"vvo  of  his  children  as  hostages,  left  on 


horses  from  the  thieves  and  returned  them  to  the  Indians  with  explanations,  which  made  a 
very  favorable  impression  on  the  savages.  The  settlers  on  the  Colorado  were  already  in- 
volved in  a  war  with  the  wild  tribes,  nnd  the  return  of  the  stolen  horses  persuaded  the  In- 
d'ans  that  they  were  different  tribes,  one  disposed  to  be  friendly,  and  the  other  hostile."  A 
Comprehensive  History  of  Texas,  Vol.  1,  page  746. 

Isaac  Duke  Parker,  an  early  emigrant  to  the  eastern  part  of  Texas,  writing  of  affaire 
previous  to  and  about  this  period,  says:  "At  that  time  all  the  Indians  east  of  the  Brazos 
river  were  peaceable  (?),  and  were  located  as  follows:  The  Cooshatties  and  Alabamas  lived 
on  the  Trinity,  in  what  is  now  Polk  county;  the  Beedis  on  Beedi  creek,  south  of  the  La- 
borde'  road,  in  what  is  now  Madison  county;  the  Wacos  lived  where  the  city  of  Waco  now 
is;  the  Tehuacanas  at  the  site  of  the  present  Tehuacana  High  School,  Limestone  county; 
the  lonies  on  loni  creek,  where  the  line  between  Houston  and  Anderson  counties  now  runs; 
the  Kickapoos  on  the  Neches  and  north  of  the  San  Antonio  road.  They  were  all  peaceable 
with  the  people  east  of  the  Brazos  river,  but  most  of  them  regarded  the  people  west  of  the 
Brazos  as  a  different  race  of  people,  and  would  commit  depredations,  killing  and  robbing 
west  of  that  river,  while  maintaining  friendly  attitude  towards  the  peaple  east  of  the  Bra- 
zos."—Reminiscences  of  Pioneer  Life  in  Texas,  MSS.  page  1. 

Writing  of  the  Texas  tribes.  Captain  George  B.  Erath  says:  "There  in  one  thing  that 
we  particularly  noted  about  their  superstitions,  they  always  believed  the  people  of  Texas  to 
be  of  entirely  different  origin  from  the  people  of  the  United  States;  and  they  had  the  same 
ideas  about  a  difference  of  tribes  in  Texas  before  Texas  was  separated  fsom  Mexico.  Even 
after  they  made  their  treaties  in  1845  they  believed  that  the  white  people  of  the  Brazos 
were  altogether  different  'tribes'  from  those  on  the  Colorado  and  west  of  that  stream.  They 
claimed  to  be  at  peice  on  the  Brazos,  while  depredating  on  the  Colorado.  And  this  was  the 
idea  of  all  the  w  Id  Indians  in  Texas,  excepting,  perhaps,  the  Tonks,  who,  from  their  total 
difference,  and  from  the  hatred  against  them  by  the  other  Indians,  were  compelled  to  oc- 
cupy ground  within  the  borders  of  white  settlements.  A  small  band  or  sub-division  of  Cad- 
dos also  maintained  friendly  intercourse  with  the  settlers  about  the  Brazos  and  did  not  par- 
ticipate in  this  wild  idea,  but,  knowing  that  the  people  o»  the  Colorado  made  no  distinction 
between  Indians,  they  kept  aloof  and  refrained  from  going  westward  of  the  waters  of  the 
Brazos,  confining  their  hunting  and  camps  within  that  scope.  Friendly  and  fearless,  they 
were  regarded  as  protectors  to  the  settlers  of  the  Brazos. 

"This  produced,  about  the  years  1834-5,  an  antipathy  between  the  people  on  the  Colo- 
rado and  Guadalupe,  and  the  people  of  the  Brazos,  some  going  so  far  as  to  charge  the  set- 
tlers on  the  Brazos  side  with  conniving  at  the  outrages  committed  out  west,  and  buying  the 
stolen  horses.  The  wild  Indians  in  doing  mischief,  would  if  possible,  pass  out  through  the 
camp  of  these  more  civilized  bands,  and,  when  followed,  it  would  thus  implicate  those  who 
weredieposedor  actually  friendly  and  innocent- finally  producing  the  general  indiscrimi- 
■ate  war.'      "My  Knowledge  of  the  Aborigines  of  Texas",  MSS.  Page  B-6.  ^ 


132  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

this  peace  emilja-ssy,  and  in  due  time  returned,  reportinig  that 
the  tribes  visited  would  treat  with  the  Brazos  people,  but 
that  a  majority  we.re  ■irre^oai'C liable  aud  very  bitter  ag-ainst 
tlie  se!t(tle(rs  on  the  Coloradjo — even  tlien  a  party  of  the 
hostUeis  were  leaving  cm  a  foray  in  tlie  direction  of  that 
settlement. 

A  messenger  rode  rapidly  fiiom  the  "Falls"  to  giv^ 
warning  of  this  dain^,r,  but  unfortunately,  arrived  too  late 
the  wily  foe  having  slipped  in,  murdered  a  settler,  stole  a 
num'ber  of  horses  and  left — eluding  the  quick  pursuit  of  a 
small  party  of  citizens  under  Edward  Boirleson. 

Meantime  some  travelers,  halting  at  t)he  "  Falls,  "lost  some 
horses — strayed  away — alid  employed  Canoma  to  recover 
them,  furnishing  him  witli  written  authority  for  that  purpose. 
The  aged  chief  mth  his  wife  and  son,  following  the  track 
of  the  straying  animalsi  westward,  found  them!  near  the 
Three  Forks  of  Little  River.  "If  he  had  returned  at  once 
to  the  settlements"  says  Kenney,  "it  would  have  saved  the 
life  of  himself  aoad  scm,  and  spared  the  historian  a  painfiul 
duty;  but,  /being  in  no  hurry,  he  stopped  to  hunt,  and  while 
in  camp  was  fciund  Iby  the  pa^rty  from  Bastrop,  wh<o  were 
pursuing  the  marauders."         I  . 

Canoma  prodaiced  his  -credentials,  which  must  have  beeai 
convincing,  sdnce  it  was-  plainly  impossible  fcr  him  to  have 
forged  them.  But,  find^nig  they  were  deliberating  a-bout 
taking  his  life,  he  begtged  them  to  go  ^vith  him  to  the  "Falls," 
thirty  miles  away,  where  the  owners  of  the  horses  were, 
to  verify  his  statement — a  request  which  could  not  with  asiy 
reason  be  refusted ;  but  it  was  left  to  a  vote,  and  a  fatal  ma- 
jority condemned  the  pMnly  innocent  man  to  death.*  Ca- 
noma and  son  were  tiied  to  trees  and  shot — the  sqniaw  being 
spared  to  find  her  way  in  alone  to  her  people.    Though  not 


*  Brown,  somewhat  apoloeretically,  saya  Burleson  and  party  were  not  aware  of  the 
old  chief's  faithfulness,  but  tnat  Burleson  was  disposed  to  honor  his  credentials.  His  men, 
however,  "already  incensed,  and  finding:  Canoma  in  possession  of  the  horses  under  such  sus- 
picious circumstances,  grave  rein  to  unreasoning:  exasperation— ever  lamented  by  the  chiv- 
alrous aad  kind  hearted  Burleson."  ^  But  the  tainted  pas:a  cannot  be  expunged  from  our 
history. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  133 

censurirg  tJie  Bl*azos  peopk,  the  report  o^"  tlios  cold-blooded 
act  greatly  incensied  the  remainder  of  th^e  btcd,  who  mow 
left  the  settlement  uiid»er  their  second,  or  war-chief,  Choc- 
taw Tcm,  for  the  Indian  cofiuntry — ^ihemselves  declaring  war 
^aisnt  th^  Coloradoans. 

Thus  the  smold'ering  sparks  were  beinig  facoied,  acd  as 
thje  siettlers  continued'  to^  pmsh  out  further,  and  bolder,  disre- 
garding the  fancied  rights  and  privileg'es  of  the  differemt 
tribes,  the  flames  of  savage  warfare  were  being  kindled 
alcnig  the  entire  frontier. 


ROUTING  THE  KEECHIS. 

In  Mgy  of  thds  year,  ica  consequence  of  sK)me  depreda- 
tions; and  soispecting  the  small  tribe  of  Keechis,  a  company 
of  about  thirty  Caimmings  settlement  men  aimed,  mounted, 
and  left  "Washington-<c«i-thie-Brazos,  against  these  Indiams. 
Arravirg  at  their  village  oni  Boggy  Creiek,  a  tributary  of 
the  Trinity  in  whiat;  is  now  Leon  county,  they  were  met  by 
the  head  men  of  the  ta-ibe,  who  professed  surprise,  stoutly  de- 
claring their  innocence  and  friendship;  and  in  proof  ex- 
hibiited  a  treaty  wijth  them  signed  by  the  empresario  Ster- 
ling C.  Robertson. 

**We  were  about  to  depart  without  molesting  them," 
says  Joel  "W.  Robinson,  who  was  in  the  expedition,  "Whca 
some  of  o-ur  men,  in  looking  about  the  village,  saw  and  r-e- 
eognlized  sev\eral  horses  which  had  been  stolen  from  the  set- 
tlements on  th€  Colorado.  Finding  they  weire  detected,  the 
Keechis  seized  their  arms.  We  fired  on  them,  killing  two  of 
tiheir  number,  wlhen  they  took  refuge  in  a  tliieket  contiguous 
to  the  viillaige,  which  was  afterwards  burned.  None  of  our 
men  were  injured.  Papers  were  found  in  the  village 
which  were  known  to  have  been  on  the  person  of  a  young, 
man  named  Edwards  who  was  killed  by  the  Indians  twenty, 
miles  below  Bastrop,  a  few  months  previously. 

"We  immediately  collected  about  thirty  head  of  horses 
and  st^arted  homeward'.    Ae  we  expected   the   Indians   would 


134  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

pursue  us  and  make  an  effort  to  recover  th^dr  Worses,  a 
strong  guard  was  pl<aoed  around  our  camp  the  ensuingi 
Dight.  At  a  late  hour  X)ne  of  .the  sentinels  fired  off  his  gun  aand 
ran  into  camp  crying  'Indians!'  The  night  was  unusually 
dairk,  amd  the  men,  smiddenly  aroused  fnom'  sleep,  mistook 
on^e  anoth^er  for  the  €memy.  Some  clU'labed  their  rifles  and 
knoicked  diown  their  messmiates.  Several  shots  w-ere  alSjO 
fined,  and  one  man  (Benjamin  Castleman)  was  killed  and 
another  wound/ed,  before  the  mistake  was  discovered.  I 
think  it  probable  that  the  sentinel  really  saw  Indians,  btut 
tluey  did  not  molest  us.  We  retuimed  home  withcut  further 
mishap.  Both  Major  Oldham  and  Capt.  John  York  claimed 
the  command  of  this  company,  and  were  constantly  quarrel- 
ing about  it,  !but  neither  of  tiiem  was  ever  fully  recoignized 
as  such  by  the  men." 


COLEMAN'S  FIGHT— MOORE'S  EXPEDITION. 

Followiin.g  this  summary  chastisement  of  the  Kee<ihis, 
Captain  Robert  ]\I.  Coleman,  of  Bastrop,  with  a  company  of 
twenty-five,  tihree  of  whom  were  Brazos  men  and'  well 
known  tK)  many  of  the  Indians,  crossed,  the  Brazos  at  Wash- 
ingtom,  on  the  foiurth  of  July,  eniroute  to  the  TeTiuaciana  vil- 
lage, at  the  famous  springs  of  that  nam.e,  now  in  LiuLestone 
county. 

The  purpose  of  tliis  expedition,  it  is  said,  was  to  hold 
council  aflid  form  a  treaty  with  the  tribe,  but  spies  gave 
warning  of  an  armed  force  approaching,  and  taking  it  for 
•granted  that  their  intentions  were  hostile,  the  Indians  took 
strong  position  in  their  rifle  pits,  dug  in  the  ground,  firing 
fupon  the  w^hites  as  they  eame  within  range.  A  des>perate 
fight  now  ensued  in  whieh  a  number  of  Indians  fell,  but  they 
were  obstinate  and  held  their  grooind,  repelling  all  effiorts 
to  dislodge  them  froin  their  strongholds;  and  in  the  end 
compelling  Coleman  and  his  small  force  to  retreat,  with  the 
loss  of  one  man  killed  and  four  wotunded'. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  135 

HaltiiE'^  at  Fort  Parker,  two  amdi  a  half  miles  from  the 
present  town  of  Groeisbeck,  Coleman  sent  messengers  to  the 
settlements  for  re-inforcemeiats,  and  was  soon  joined  by  three 
voluiateer  eompaniesi,  nnder  Captains  Robert  M.  William- 
aon,  (the  gifted,  dauntless,  eloquent  and  eccentric  three- 
leg|ged  Willie)  George    W.  Bennett  and Calheen.  i 

The  whole  was  under  the  chief  command  of  Col.  J«)lwi 
H.  Mo<ore,  with  Joseph  C.  Neill  (a  soldier  of  the  Horse- 
ahoe)  as  adjutant ;  the  combined  forces  immediately  march- 
ing to  the  village,  but  the  Indians  had  timely  warning  and 
fled. 

TIdus'  foiled  in  their  plans  to  retaliate  and  punish  the 
wily  Tehuacanas,  the  forces  now  scoured  the  coointry  to  the 
forks  tof  the  Trinity,  near  the  subsequent  site  of  Dallas, 
passing  over  to  end  down  the  Brazos;  crossing  that  xiver 
where  old  Fort  Oraham  later  sttocd,  ard  returned  home 
after  a  trip  of  several  weeks.  But  few  lE,dians  were  en- 
(COiantered  on  the  trip* — one  warrior  who  was  killed,  and  a 
few  women  and  cliildren  whiO'  weire  captured,  carried  into 
settlem.ents,  amd  sold  for  slaves — the  only  instance  in  all 
the  Indian  wars  of  Texas.* 

Although  failing  to  engage  the  eneiny  and  tio  strike 
them  a  decisive  blow,  these  expeditions  and  military  demon- 
strations weire  not  without  their  results^ — says  Yoakum: 
^'Tliiis  seasonable  display  of  force  on  the  frontier  was  of 
great  service,  as  it  over-awed  the  Indians,  and  also  tended 
to  discipline  the  volunteers,  and  prepare  them  for  the  tioils 
and  triumphs  that  awaited  thettn  at  (home.  As  expressed 
in  the  somewhat  pompous  language  of  one  of  Austin's 
'original  300,'  'this  campaign  on  the  frontier  was  of 
great  ser\'ice,  as  it  gave  the  Indians  an  idea  of  what  the 
Texams  could  and  would  do  if  they  continued  to  bother 
them.'  " 


»"The  same  experiment."  says  Kenney,  "had  been  tried  in  all  the  States,  but  it  had 
always  proved  a  failure,  as  it  did  in  this  instance.  The  Indians  would  not  work  even  in 
slavery,  and,  unfortunately,  not  in  any  other  condition." 


136  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

HEROIC  DEFENSE  OF  THE  TAYLOR  FAMILY. 

Besides  iserving  £s  a  eoniiectiicg  livik  in  the  long  and 
bloody  chain  of  ouir  frontier  history,  the  followijng  imci-demt 
is  of  furtber  consideration  as  illustratMig  the  "vvonderfnl hero- 
ism of  the  pioneer  womcfa  of  Texas. 

As  early  as  1833-4  the  brave  amd  hardy  picineers  of  Rob- 
ertson's Colony,  or  "Milam  Land  Distract,"  as  dt  was  af- 
terwardis  known,  had  pushed  as  far  west  as  the  present 
county  seat  of  Bell  county.  Among  the  first — truly  ad- 
vamce-guards,  and  for  soim.e  time  thereafter  the  outermosit 
inrhabitaaits  in  that  ddrection — were  the  Taykr  family,  who 
settled  near  the  Three  Forks  of  Little  River,  in  wfhat  is  now 
known  as  "Taylor's  Valley,"  some  three  miles  southeast  of 
the  present  eaty  of  Beltom,  amd  almosit  the  same  distance 
above  the  "Falls." 

The  home  was  a  double  log  cabim  with  covered  but  uai- 
floored,  passage  between — a  door  to  each  eabiin  opening  to 
thie  passage;  the  shutters  of  riven  slats,  fadling  to  reiaclhi  to 
the  top  and  leavnng  an  opening  of  several  inches. 

The  family  ccnMsted  of  Joseph  Taylor  and  wife;  two 
grown  daughters,  and  two  sons,  Stephtn,  the  oldest,  13  or 
14  years  of  age — all  the  childTeni  by  a  former,  deceased  hus- 
band,  Mr.  Frazdeir. 

In  the  night  of  Novemaber  12th.,  1835,*  on  the  light  of 
the  mocn,  atid  after  the  family  had  reitiredl — the  parents  amd 
girls  in  one  room;  the  two  boys  in  the  other — a  party  of 
eleve<n  Kickapoo  Indians  attacked  the  house.  The  first 
intimationi  of  daniger  was  the  fierce  barking  of  a  faith- 
ful watch-dog  which,  howavei',  was  soon  silenced  with  aji 
arrow.  Approachioig  nearer,  the  Indians  in  broken  English 
accosted  Mr.  Taylor,  deanandling  to  know  how  many  men 
were  in  the  house:     "We  halve  a  plenty  of  men,  well  armed 


*'New8,  however  important  the  event,  did  not  travel  bo  fast  in  that  pioneer  time,  as 
BOW.  There  were  no  telephones;  no  telegraph,  to  flash  the  occurrence  of  thie  affair  to  the 
only  newspaper  then  published  in  all  Texas,  that  its  readers  might  scan  the  headlines  or 
read  the  details  of  this  tbrilline:  incident.  Just  twenty  days  elapsed  before  the  matter 
found  its  way  into  print. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  137 

aiwl  ready  to  fight,''  answered  Taylor.  "Ycu  U<e,  o-ne 
man!"  shooited  fhe  red  skim  as  he  peea-ed  throti^h  a 
small  crack.  Whereupon  Taylor  tharueit  him  wath  a  boiard 
cansing  his  hasty  retreat. 

Meantime  Mrs.  Taylor  threw  open  the  door  and  called 
tbe  boys  to  her  rcom,  whdch  they  reached  uuharmedi  amid  a 
shower  of  balls  and  arrows.  At  this  moment  audi 
juist  as  Mrs.  Taylor  sneeeeded  in  barring  and  securing  the 
door  with  a  hea\y  table,  a  powerful  warrior  violently  sbo ok 
the  shutter,  demanding  admiittance,  sayars-g,  "Me  poor  In- 
dian. Wa'nt  tobacco — no  fight.".  To  which.  Mrs.  Taylor 
boldly  replied:  "No  admittance,  and  no  presenftis  for  red 
de\ils."  The  attack  now  commenced  in  earnest,  the  brave 
Mrs.  Taylor  comtnandiing  the  forces  within.  Plaeinig  a  ta- 
ble against  the  dcor,  she  armed  and  mounted  the  young- 
est boy,  only  twelve  years  old,  with'  instructions  to  shoot 
the  firsit  Indian  that  came  in  range,  while  the  two  girla 
were  set  to  moulding  bulle'ts,  that  the  supply  might  not  give 
out.  For  once  tjhe  boy  ooi  the  table  found  (the  opening  over 
the  door  shutter,  a  conrv^emence.  Procuring  aiu  axe  from  the 
wood-pile,  one  of  the  fiendis  started  for  the  dooa'  and  had 
reached  the  covered  passage-way,  when  the  brave  little  boy 
fired  and  the  Indian  dropped  dead.  Seeing  the  fate  of  his 
coanrade,  another  demon  rushed  up  and  attempteid  'to  d!rag 
tthe  dead  one  away,  when  witlh  the  same  accuracy  as  the  boy, 
Taylor  fired,  felling  the  second  Indian,  mort-ally  wounded, 
across  the  first  one.  The  redskins  were  now  more  cautious,, 
resorting  to  strategy  rather  than  hazard  the  dangers  of 
direct  attack.  The  farthest  end  of  the  vacated  room  was 
fired,  and  as  the  flames  'made  rapid  headway,  the  exultaffit 
fiendjs  danced  and  indulged  in  most  demoniaeal  yells,  which 
fell  heafvily  on  the  ears  of  the  besieged  apd  now  seemingly 
doomed  inmates.  And  now  it  was  that  Mr.  Taylor,  consid- 
ering their  fa<te  sealed,  became  very  much  dispirited,  and 
suggesteid  to  his  wife  that  they  rush  out  and  surrender. 
"They  will  doubtless  kill  me,  but  make  you  and  the  ehiidreni 
prieoners.    In  that  event  yon  must  drop  bits  of  clothiog  on 


138  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

tk^i  way  so  that  friends  oaoi  follow  and'  recapture  you." 
Buit  tlie  heroic  wifie  amd  mothet  with  great  eamiestDSis  and 
retjolute  determioiation  responded:  "No!  I  ihad  rarther  perislh 
la  the  flames;  had  rather  die  a  thcueerd  deaths,  amd  soe 
my  daughters  kilLed,  rather  thsm  they  shionld  suffer  the 
sbasaie  aiiid  agonizimg  t-ortures  of  captivity  in  the  band^  of 
saah  merciless  <:(nd  savage  fiefflds!  No!  you  must  take  cour- 
age acnd  fighit.  We  must  defend  ounsielves  to  the  last,  and 
a  the  wcist  come,  die  bravely  tK)gie'ther!"  This  hraJve 
licarted  matrcai  infused  her  daantless  spirit  ituto  all. 

Meanwhile  thie  flames  were  miakianig  rapid  headway  in 
the  rocf,  and  the  fate  oif  tine  family  now  indeed  seeoned 
sealed,  the  fire  would  soon  consume  thtm,  or  force  them 
tr»  leave  the  house  to  meet  a  w(  rse  fate  at  the  hands  of  the 
relen/tless  foe,  unless  it  was  checked.  Bui  the  heroie  ]\[rs. 
Taylor  in  her  desperate  determination  to  save  her  loved 
tiHts,  was  equal  to  the  emergency,  declarinig  thiey  wouM  yet 
will)  the  eontest  and  all  ibe  saived.  Fortunately  there  was  a 
small  barrel  of  home-made  vinegar  iai' the  rocm,  and  the 
SLsiial  supply  of  milk.  Wirbh  th  .'se  she  declared  slue  eould  pfut 
©ufc  the  fire,  and,  suitimg  her  actiooi  to  the  resolution,  and 
w*tli  a  degree  of  courage  evinced  by  few,*  she  mouinted  a 
table  and  ascended  the  log  wall  to  the  roof.  Removing  tlio 
**weight  poles"  and  quickljy  clear:a3g  away  the  (boards  or 
i-ii.-€an  sbingles,  making  an  lO^eaiiug  in  ad^'amce  of  the  fiire, 
^d'  them  baring  her  head  and  clijCfet  to  the  dotnstant  fiire  of 
the  enemy,  sh.e  coolly  aoid  judicicai.sly  distributed  the  fluids 
as  tbey  were  passed  up  to  her,  quemehiing  and  arresting  the 
ffisrther  spread  of  the  flamies.  And  surely  old  Mars  stoiled 
fm-  this  Spartan-lik/e  matrom  as  she  regaimed  the  flioc<r     uln- 


*  Afterwards,  in  relating  this  feat  to  Capt.  Shapley  Roas,  Mrs.  Taylor  said  she 
dKSUsht  not  of  personal  danger  from  the  arrows  of  the  Indians,  abusing  them  all  the  while. 
1m  t&e  coTered  passage-way  already  described,  there  was  suspended  by  bear  grass  thongs, 
a,<¥a*Rtity  of  "jerked"  buffalo  and  bear  meat.  As  the  heat  and  flames  reached  this  part  of 
tBtaToof,  the  fat  "bacon"  was  ignited  and  began  to  fry  — the  intensely  hot  grease  streaming 
<£ci«ra  on  the  wounded  Indian,  virtually  cooking  him  alive,  and  causing  him  to  utter  the  most 
bifeous  and  agonizing  yell?,  greatly  to  the  delight  of  Mrs.  Taylor,  who  looked  down  upon 
t8«  squirming  wretch  and  exclaimed:  "Howl,  you  yellow  brute!  You  ar»  not  fit  to  feed  to 
ftoss!    But  we'll  roast  you  for  the  wolves!!" 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS,  139 

harmed,  but  with  several  bullet  holes  in  and  through  her  cloth- 
ing. While  the&e  scenes  weir«  transpirisng,  Mr.  Taylor  aaid 
the  'eldieist  scm  were  niot  idle.  A  lnorse  was  tied  near  the 
housie  im  tbe  yard;  an  Indaam  atteiopted  to  secuir«  the  ani- 
mal; Mr.  Taylor  fired'  amd  the  tliief  fled,  wcunded.  About 
the  same  time  the  b'oy,  Stephen  Frazier,  secured  aim  aind 
woumded  another.  The  contest  was  now  varying  somewhat 
in  favor  of  the  besdeged.  But  the  enemy  were  loath  to  give 
up  the  C'caitest.  The  vigilant  -eye  ard  ear  'of  Mrs.  Taylor 
(Eiow  disaovered  cme  of  the  Indians  in  the  C'Uter  ehiminey 
corner,  end'eavcring  to  start  a  fire  amd  at  the  sam^e  time 
peerilog  tliax)ugh  a  consfidarable  hicle  burnt  iin  the  dirt  and 
wiDcd  "jam,"  for  a  isJiot.  Securiug  a  large  wood€in  s'hov€l- 
ful  <oi  live  coals  and  eimlbers,  she  threw  thtem'  full  into  his 
face  and  bosom,  causing  the  r-ed  devil  to  spring  away  with 
an  agonizing  ' '  waugh !  ugh  ! ' ' — to  which  Mrs.  Taylor 
somewhat  facetiooisly  ejaculated:  "Take  that  yciu  yellow 
vaTmant,  it  will  help  ycu  to  kindle  yo^ar  fire!"  This  "hero- 
ic," ooular  treatment,  it  was  afterwards  learned,  par'tially 
destroyed  the  Indiain's  sigiht. 

Thus  distcsomfitted  and  foiled,  the  Indians  withdrew, 
and  after  a  silnort  ocnsultation,  gave  up  the  attack  amd  left. 
An  hour  or  so  later,  the  heroic  family  decided  to  leave 
their  dismantled  home — first  secreting  their  beddiiing  and 
some  other  valuables  in  the  Leon  bottom,  one  of  the  boys 
serving  as  sentinel  from  the  house  top  wMle  this  was  being 
done — and  make  their  way  to  their  neareist  neighbor,  Capt. 
Gouldisby  Childress,  who  had  built  a  ciabin  on  Little  River, 
abcoit  seven  miles  below,  and  rear  the  present  town  of  Rog- 
ers, where  they  arrived/  soon  afteir  daylight. 

In  the  forenicicn  of  the  same  day,  George  W.  Chapman, 
in  command  of  a  small  company  of  rangers  stationed  at  the 
"Falls"  of  the  Brazos,  arrived  at  the  Taylor  cabin  and  were 
greatly  surprised  to  find  it  dismantled  andl  deserted,  and 
naturally  supposed  the  family  had  been  carried  into  capti- 
vity, or  murdered.  The  rangers  out  off  the  heads  tof  the  two 
dead  and  chaired  Indians,  staick  them)  on  long  poles,     and 


140  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

raised  them  ia®   a   gm ©some   wiaiming  to  other  hostiles  that 
jnighft  passi  that  way. 

SReverting  tJhius  far  into  the  mistty  past — ^this  tlhrillkiig 
€pi&od€!  occurred  full  tftiir^e  quarters  of  a  century  ago — to- 
diay  a  beaaitiful  and'  substanltBial  <My,  m  point  of  numiberfi 
■equal  almost  to  Itlhe  then  coanbiiaed  wftiiite  population  of  Tex- 
as,  burst  upoui  the  vislion  O'f  the  writer — enliviened)  by  tihe 
elhrilll  whistle  lof  locomotives  and  tlhe  humming  Bplindles:  of 
bfusy  factoriesi — as  he  stands  upon  the  spot  once  covered  by 
the  Taylor  home.  A  marble  sihaft  should  h-e  reared  to  coan- 
memoiratie  the  heroism  of  tihia  noble  family  of  p&oneer® — tihe 
proaninent  figure  of  which  should'  be  a  woman — the  heroic 
Mre.  Taylofr,  rifle  iaii  band,  in  fighting  aittitude. 

All  the  participants  in  this  affair  have  passed 
away — Mr,  Taylor  soon  thereafter;  the  noble  Mts.  Tiaylor, 
"in  1851  or  '52,"  says  Capt.  Shapley  Ro«s,  "re-occupied  the 
old  homestead,  the  scene  of  her  desperate  experience,  an  Tay- 
lor's Valley,  m  Bell  county,  and  is  said  to  have  died 
there."  Mrs.  Chapmanj,  the  eldest  daughter,  survived  till  a 
few  years  ago. 

A  few  years  before  his  death,  the  gaillant  ranger  dhlief, 
Col.  "Rip"  Ford,  ijn'  response  to  the  author's  request  for 
datia  on  this  affiair,  wrote: 

"Diuring  1888  the  writer  was  at  Pleasaoation,  Ataiscosa 
county,  where  he  met  Mrst  Chapman,  the  wqciow  of  Capt. 
Geo.  W.  Cliapman,  as  brave  an  Indian  fighter  as  evetr  eiet 
foot  (On  Texas  sodl — wiccing  his  first  spurs  as  Eeutenant  in 
Capt.  Shapley  Ross'  ranger  compaoiy;  and  who  died  in  1879. 
Mrs.  Chapman  was  the  eldiest  daughter  of  Mrs.  Taylor 
and  partficopated  in  the  thralling  episode  referred  to.  At 
that  time  Chapman  made  his  home  with  the  Taylor's,  but  was 
absent  whein  the  flight  occurred.  i  , 

"Mrs.  Chapmam  explained  the  caiuse  -of  the  difficulty. 
A  party  of  Tonkawa  Indtians  were  camped  near  Taylor's 
house.  A  party  iof  Kickapoos  were  kmown  to  be  iai  the  vi- 
cinity. The  Tonkawae  informed  Mr.  Taylor  they  wetre  going 
to  steal  the  htorsee  of  the  Kickapoos.     Mr.    Taylor   insistedl 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  141 

thtv  should  mot,  because  thoir  pi'ioxatoity  to  his  home  mighit 
implicate  him.  T'htey  agreed  to  move  away,  but  i'f-iled  to  d'o 
so,  till  they  (liadl  stoleii  the  Ihorses  asnd  maneuveredi  bo  aa 
to  cause  the  Kickapoos  to  blame  Taylor,  Preparatdlooiis  were 
madie  for  defense  in  case  tof  trouble — Taylor  had  cmly  two 
goinig;  Clhapmain  liad  gone  to  Naslwille  to  procure  morie.  He 
reachied  the  Taylor  home  aibo-uf.  daylight,  and  fitnidiinig  it  part- 
ly consumed  and'  vacated,  and  maturally  suppicsing  the  in- 
mates had  been  murdered,  perhaps  burned  or  carried  off 
captives,  he  hastened  baek  tio  Nashville  and  told  the  sad 
niewis.  A  company  of  ranlgeirs  and  citizens  was  qujickly  ea- 
route  tio  tJie  scene — ^^tliey  met  the  TIaylor  family  ion  the  way. 
The  fugitives  were  in  a  sad  plight;  tJieir  clotihin»g  almost 
torn  to  pieces  from  contact  with  the  bushes  and  briars;  in 
'reality  they  were  almost  naked  frfom  the  waist  diown. — ^Said 
Mrs.  Chapman:  *A11  of  usi  were  in  a  state  of -undr ess.  My 
two  brx)thers  were  almost  without  clothing.  We  were  muich 
fatiigued,  and  hungry;  evieryithing  to  eat  had  (been  burtned. 
When  we  reaeh^ed'  the  house  of  Mr.  Childless,  we  were  well 
treated.  After  we  had'  been  tJhere  sixteen  days  icur  doig 
came  to  us,  but  he  never  reciovered  from'  Ms  wound.'  As 
the  Kickapoos  surnounded  the  house,  Mr.  Taykw  talked 
wdtih  thicm  and  asked  them;  to  desist  till  he  could  explain; 
that  he  would  go  watdi  them  to  the  Tonikawa  eamp  next  day 
and  prove  his  innlocence;  but  they  refused,  saying  he  was  a 
party  to  the  theft.  The  beleaguered  family  understood  the 
situation.  There  was  no  chance  to  escape.  It  was  fight,  and 
the  di'anees  were  to  die.  Mrs.  Taylor  advocated  fight- 
ing to  the  bitter  end.  Tnue  heroine,  ^he  deserves 
a  monumentt,  not  of  ma^nble  alone,  but  a  place  in  the 
heart  of  every  one  who  admires  unjdauflited  courage — mor- 
al and  physical^ — and  which  menacing  dangers  cannot  shake 
nor  time  abate." 

"P.  S.  'Captain  Chapman,  my  late  husband,'  saya 
Mrs.  Chapman,  'came  to  us  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Childress. 
He  had  been  to  ooir  house.  The  bodies  of  the  twlo  Indiana 
were  being  eaten  by  the  hogs.  Both  the  rooms  'of  the  houae 
were  burned.    He  supposed  the  hoga  were  feasting  on'  tbe 


142  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

'd'cad  b'odiies  -of  the  Taylior  fairMIly  and  kanew  no  better  till 
h«  ireachedl  the  bons'e  of  Mr.  Childress.'  " 

Briiefly  referdnig  to  "The  Taylor  Fight"  fln  a  not-e  tlo 
the  Beltion  (Texas)  Joumal  in  1886,  the  Bom.  Geo.  W.  Tyler, 
himself  the  worthy  son  of  a  noble  Texas  p&ioaneer' — 
Judge  Orvillei  T.  Tyler  —  said:  "Mrs.  Chapman  vis- 
ited her  friemdis  in  Bell  county  siom*e  nine  or  teoi 
years  ajgo,  when  I  called  np'on  her  and  obtained  a  very 
full  account  of  the  whole  affair,  whiiieh  I  reduced  to  'writiiing 
at  the  time  in  the  form  of  notes,  but  they  were  destroyed 
when  my  ^office  burned  in  1879.  She  was  a  mere  child 
when  the  fight  occurred,  but  her  recollections  of  the 
minutest  details  were  vivid,  accurate  and  interesting.  Mrs. 
Chapttnan  lives  in  Atascosa  counity.  Her  husband,  Geo.  "W. 
Chapman,  now  deceased,  was  a  brother  'of  Mr.  W.  S.  Chap- 
man of  Temple.  He  lived  formerly  (iin:  Bell  county,  and  w,as, 
as  I  understand  it,  a  justice  of  thie  peaee  at  the  first  'Or- 
ganization of  the  county,  for  'One  of  the  county  precincts. 
There  is  a  story  among  the  old  settlers  to  the  effect  that 
when  he  held  his  last  tenm.  of  court,  a  difficulty  arose 
amocg  the  bystanders,  and  tl?e  constable  attempted  to  re- 
store order,  whereupon  the  crowd  ran  the  constable  away, 
and  there  was  therefore,  no  officer  present  to  make  pro- 
clamationi  of  the  adjournment  of  'His  Honor's'  court,  and 
that  said  court  has  remained  open  ever  since." 

To  the  late  Capt.  W.  T.  Davidson — one  of  the  very 
early  residents  of  old  Nashville — we  are  indelbted  for 
many  valuable  notes  on  the  Taylor  fight  and  other  early 
inicidents  in  that  section.  He  says:  "I  write  enti'rely  from 
memory,  and  after  the  laipse  oi  many  years,  but  in  the 
maiai  think  I  am  accurate.  The  Taylor  family  and  my 
mother  with  her  family  of  five  children  (the  Com'aniches 
having  murdered  my  father  in  1836),  lived  after  the  in- 
cident at  the  town  of  Nashville  on  the  Brazos,  and  siome 
twenty  five  miles  below  the  scene  of  Taylor's  fig'ht;  and 
I  have  heard  Mrs.  Taylor  relate  the  affair  to  my  mother 
on  many  occasions. 

»»♦        *        •        •        »»»        ••        * 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  14$ 

"There  were  many  stirring  efvenits  takim'g  place  all  tlie 
time;  one  in  wMcb  Joe  Taylor,  of  Taylor's  Valley  fight  fame, 
participated.  He  was  carryijng  the  mail  between  Nashville 
and  Independence,  and  was  returning  after  night  when  with- 
in about  two  miles  of  town  he  discovered  five  or  six  In- 
dians just  above  the  road  sitting  on  their  horses.  Taylor 
hailed  them,  and  at  the  same  time  put  spurs  to  his  horse 
with  the  Indians  right  at  his  heels.  On  and  on  they  came 
like  a  whirlwind  into  town.  One  big,  stalwart  fellow  came 
right  alongside  and  tried  to  grapple  his  bridle  reins.  Tay- 
lor, who  was  carrying  a  rifle,  but  being  so  closely  pursued, 
wa^  unable  to  uso  it  up  to  this  time,  struck  the  Indian  over 
the  head  and  landed  him  on  the  ground.  The  people  of  the 
town  soon  collected  around  Taylor  and  wanted  to  know 
what  he  was  making  all  that  noise  about — hollerioig  'run 
here  boys,  run  here  bo^-®!'  He  then  related  his  experience 
and  showed  a  wound  hie  had  receivedi  at  the  bands  of  the 
red  devils." 

The  "Three  Forks  of  Little  River,"  constituted  by  the 
juDKiture  of  the  Leon,  the  Lampasas  and  the  Salado,  and 
designated  by  the  Mexicans  as  well  as  the  early  Amerkan 
eettlters,  as  the  "San  Andres,"  was  a  notable  locality  in 
the  coloni'al  and  p(ion)eer  period  of  Texas,  many  stirring  epi- 
sodes occurring  m  and  around  the  vicinity.  Speaking  of 
the  Lampasas,  (Waiter  lily)  and  tho  Salado,  (SaltJish)  it 
may  be  of  interest  to  know  the  names  of  th-ese  two  streams 
were,  in  some  way,  perhaps  by  blundering  geographers, 
transposed^ — the  original  nomenclature  being  characteristic, 
of  the  two  waters,  wiidle  the  unfortunate  change  is  n'otice- 
ably  ineongruous.  In  like  manner  were  the  "Brazos"  and 
"Colorado"  misnomered. 

In  September  of  this  year  suxveyimg  parties  were  fit- 
ted out  by  Thomas  A.  Graves,  for  locating  lands  in  th-e 
then  rapidly  settling  Robertson's  Colony.  While  working  oa 
the  San  Gabriel  they  we're  yurjprised'  by  a  band  of  dep- 
redatimg  Indians — two  of  the  p»arty  killed,  and  the  othe^na 
baxely  escaping  by  flight. 


144  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

TRIALS  OF  EARLY  EMI0RANT3. 

In  November  following,  thie  same  mooitli  in  whieh  oc- 
curred the  Taylor  atta:ck,  and  in  the  siame  locality,  W.  C. 
Sparks,  his  negro  man,  Jack,  and  Michael  Reed, 
with  an  ox  wagon  loaded  with  com,  left  the  now  unknown, 
but  th;ein  impoi'tatnt  point  called  "Tenoxtitlan,"  to  seek  a 
campimg  place  and  tiltimate  home  on  the  "Rio  Saon  Andres" 
(now  Little  River)  about  ten  or  twelve  miles  southeast  of 
the  present  city  of  Beltom.  Tine  sequel  is  best  given  by 
John  Henry  Prowm,  'an  acknowledged  authoa-ity  otti  maitters 
of  Texas  border  history:-  "Sparks,  Reed  and  Jack  ar- 
rived and  pitched  camp  at  a  poimt  otn.  Little  Rivei*  on  what 
has  since  been  known  as  the  Sparks  League.  They  on'  the 
Rame  day,  comfetructed  a  peai  in  which  to  place  their  corn. 
As  the  miglit  approached,  Mr.Reed  crossed  the  *river  and 
passed  his  first  night  ooi  Little  River  in  the  camp  of  a 
newly  arrived  emigrant  named  John  "Welsh.  Outride  of  the 
Taylor  family  that  entiTe  country  was  then  a  vast,  but 
beautiful  and'  lovely  solitude.  In  most  other  outside  locali- 
ties, as  at  Bastrop,  Gonzales,  Tenoxtitlan  and  elsewihiere, 
families  congregated  for  the  time  being  in  a  specolal  settle- 
ment and  had  their  temporary  fields  around  them,  whereby 
all  the  available  force  could  be  rallied  in  a  moment  for 
defense.  But  these  men  on  Little  River  had  no  sucb  nucle- 
us. They  took  life  with  all  its  hazards  and  moved  in  the 
y^fry  heart  of  an  Indianj  country. 

"On  this  first  night  the  Indians  attacked  the  lonely  camp 
o*  Sparks  and  Jack.  Many  shots  were  fired  and  were  heard 
by  Michael  Reed  and  Jofhmi  Welsh  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river.  Sparks  -and  Jack,  in  the  dark,  sought  refuge  in 
a  thicket.  The  Indians  seemed  afraid  to  attack  the  camp 
and  retired.  In  the  morning  Sparks  and  Jack  struck  out 
for  Tenoxtitlan,  en  the  Brazos.  Michael  Reed  and  John 
iWelsh  on  visiting  the  camp  and  finding  no  cme,  took  up 
their  effects  and  returned  to  the  Brazos.  On  their  way  and 
rear  where  Brushy  Creek  enters  the  San  Gabriel,  Sparks 
and  Jaick  met  two  men,  brothers,  named'  Riley,  with  two  wag- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  145 

oojs,  th'Ciir  effects,  wiveo  and  childrein,  destined  for  the 
LAttle  River  settleoaent.  They  appris-ed  them  of  the  previ- 
OTis  nig-ht's  thappeniffitgs  and  advised  them  to  return,  but 
they  would  mot,  and  moved  on.  Inside  of  a  mile  the  In- 
dians api>eared,  profeisse'd  friendship  an-d  claim^ed  only  to 
be  following  Sparks  and  Jack.  Thereupon  the  (brothers 
Riley  countermareh-ed.  But  as  they  were  entering  the  bot- 
tom at  Brushy  Creek  the  Indiaois  appeared  on  eaeih  side  of 
the  wagons.  As  they  entered  the  creek  one  savage  jumped 
on  the  lead  horse,  cut  loose  his  hames,  and  was  about 
to  whirl  round  for  offensive  measures,  when  one  of  the 
Riley  brothers  sSkA  hji.m  dead.  Thenb-eg-ana  vigorous  fight. 
A  young  ma<n  oi  the  party,  with  the  women  and  children, 
fled  to  tke  brush  and,  kept  on  fleeing  until,  in  about  two 
days,  they  reached  the  settlements  on  the  Brazos.  Very 
aooai  one  of  tbe  Riieys  was  mortally  wounded,  but  before 
dying  killed  two — so  that  the  deceased  brother  and  five 
Indians  lay  dead  in  the  bed  of  the  creek,  within  a  few 
feet  of  each  other.  The  attacking  party,  ism  view  of  su«3i 
mortality,  fled,  and  left  the  field  to  the  survivdag  Riley. 
Nothing  daunteid,  he  took  from  one  of  the  wagons  a  mat- 
tress, oe  which  he  laid  his  dead  brother — coveric^g  him  in 
sheets  and  quilts,  to  keep  the  wolves  from  mutilating  his 
body — then  mounted  one  of  the  horses  an<d  next  day  ar- 
rived at  the  settlement  of  Yellow  Prairie,  now  in  Burleson 
cooijnty.  He  retaraed  with  a  party  and  buried  his  broth- 
er. Soon  afterward,  the  Riieys  left  Texas  and  returned 
to  Mississippi." 

Both  Reed  aiid  Sparks  have  relatives  yet  living  in  that 
yieiaity ;  all  homieraible  and  worthy — William,  a  son  of  Mi- 
chaed.  Reed,  having  served  an  first  sheriff  of  Bell  county. 
Sam  Sparks,  a  most  estimable  and  worthy  descendant  of 
W.  C.  Sparks,  is  mow  holding  the  office  of  State  Treas- 
urer.* 

Numerous    other    tragedies      and      incidents   of   border 

♦Resigned  in  1912. 


146  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXA8. 

warfare  dccurr^d  dturing'  this  year — tiie  exact  dates,  and  in 
moet  instances  reliable  details    of  which  are  lacking. 


MURDER  OF  THE  RANCHEROS. 

In  the  eonrtse  of  some  excavations  being  made  in  the 
conrthouBe  yard  at  Corpus  C  hristi  in  1902,  eighteen  hnmiaii 
skeletons  were  unearthed.  The  gruesome  discovery  ex- 
cited much  curiosity  and'  speculation  till  the  mystery  was 
cleared  awa^^  by  Mr.  Frandalig,  one  of  the  oldest  inhaibit- 
ants  of  the  coast  country,  and  residing  in  the  vticinity  as 
far  back  as  1835.  ''In  1835,"  he  said,  "there  resided  a 
short  distance  west  of  the  site  of  Corpus  Christi,  a  ranchman 
Alejandro  Garcia,  who  had  in  his  employ  about  twenty 
peons.  The  Lipan  Indians,  about  one  hundred  strong,  mad.' 
a  raid  on  the  ranch,  and  recognizing  his  inabilty  to  hold 
out  against  so  formidable  a  band  of  Indians,  Garcia  and  his 
peons  fled  for  their  lives  in  t  his  direction.  They  were  pur- 
sued amd  overtaken  near  the  present  site  of  Corpus  Chris- 
ti, and  thowgli  they  made  desperate  resistance,  were  final- 
ly overcome  and  most,  if  not  all,  (massacred.  After 
the  Indians  had  retreated,  j\Iexican  soldiers  fromi  San  An- 
tonio and  rancheros  from  inteivening  points,  came  and  bur- 
ied the  unfortunate  victims  at  or  near  where  tbey  fell, 
and,  to  the  best  of  my  recollection,  that  point  is  about 
where  the  presen/t  court  house  stands."  This  is  the  ac- 
count in  brief — the  key  that  unlocks  the  past  and  reveals 
the  fate  of  participants  in  one  of  the  many  bloody,  but  un- 
written scenes  by  which  this  "fairest  spot  of  God's  crea- 
tion,"* now  peopled  with  a  generation  who  know     the     red 

♦  DeCordova  says:  "Depredation  after  depredation  continued,  innumerable  parties 
of  frontiersmen  were  fitted  out,  who,  whenever  an  opportunity  offered,  did  good  service; 
yet  the  Indians  were  seldom  to  be  seen,  although  the  settlers,  to  their  sorrow,  often  felt 
their  presence.  No  sooner  was  a  murder  committed,  or  horses  stolen,  than,  even  before  the 
alarm  could  be  given,  the  savages  had  traveled  far  upon  the  way  to  their  homes;  and,  with 
the  characteristic  cunning  and  skill  which  they  ever  displayed  on  their  predatory  incur- 
sions, it  was  difficult  for  the  white  men  to  follow  their  trail.  Besides,  their  power  of  en- 
durance of  fatigue  and  want  of  food  were  far  beyond  those  of  their  pursuers.  It  is  well 
known  that  these  hardy  sons  of  the  forest  have  repeatedly  traveled  more  than  one  hun- 
dred miles  over  bill  and  dale,  swimming  creeks  and  rJTere,  withoot  food  or  rest." 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  147 

man  onily  as  some  legendary  being,  was  wrenched  from  as. 
cruel  and  relentless  a  rac-e,  when  roused  to  resentment,  as 
ever  inhabited  any  portion  of  the  globe  from  the  day  it  was 
first  flung  untamed,  uncultivated,  from  the  icreative  hand  of 
Ood. 


FATE  OF  PETER  MERCER. 

The  Mercers,  (Peter  and  Jesse)  were  the  first  settlers 
en  the  San  Gabritel.  They  built  a  raide  cabin  on  the  bank 
of  the  river,  and  cleared  a  small  farm  in  the  bottom  near 
what  is  now  San  Gabriel  .post-office.  Jesse  Mercer's  wife 
was  dead  and  he  and  his  children  lived  witb  Pet-et*  IMercer, 
who  was  marri'ed,  but  had  no  childjren.  One  day  when 
Jesse*  was  absent,  a  party  of  Indians  approached  the  ho-use, 
l)Ut  manifesting  friendship,  surr-ounded  the  settler  in  his 
yard,  when  they  seized  his  gun  and  discha^-ged  its  contents 
into  his  body.  In  the  agVjnies  of  death  he  ran  some  distance 
and  sprang  from  a  bluff,  lodging  in  the  underbrush  belO'W, 
a  corpse.  While  the  Indians  were  engaged  in  a  futile 
searcih  for  .his  body,  Mrs.  Mercer  with  the  children  and  a 
negro  boy,  fled  down  the  bottom,  and  reached  tbe  slightly 
flushed  river,  which  was  crossed  with  some  difficulty — tying 
a  grapevine  around  the  waist  of  the  negro  boy,  and  holding 
the  other  end  while  he  carried  the  children  across,  one  at  a 
time.  After  other  adventures  and  much  suffering  from 
Jiungetr,  the  fugitives  made  tl-eir  way  down  to  the  settle- 
ment on  the  San  jGraibriel,  in  what  <is  now  INIilam  county. 


OTHER  ENCOUNTERS. 

Enroute  from  Port  ISIarlin  to  the  Falls  of  the  Braz:>s, 
and  when  about  midway  their  journey,     David   Ridgeway, 

» In  hJB  series  of  "Frontier  SketcheB,"  published  in  the  Fort  Worth  Gazette,  1884-5, 
pioneer  FYank  M.  Collier  wrote  interestingrly  of  this  same  Jesse  Mercer— then  married, 
though  somewhat  unhappily,  a  second  time— as  one  of  the  first  settlers  on  Mercer  Creek 
six  miles  south  of  the  present  town  of  Comanche,  in  1851,  and  adds:  "Mercer  was  an  old 
Texan,  having  emigrated  from  Georgia  in  1835,  and  had  assisted  in  surveying  most  of  the 
Leon  Valley  from  Gateeville  up,  and  was  the  owner  of  several  tracts  of  land  on  South  Leon 
and  Mercer  creeks. 


148  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

recently  from  Tennessee,  and  aanother  man  wbose  manife 
ia  not  given,  were  ambushed  by  a  party  of  C  add  as.  Ridge- 
way  fell  mortially  wounded  at  the  first  volley  of  arrows, 
but  his  conwpanion  fortunately  escaped  by  the  fleetness  of 
Lis  horse.  Citizens  pursued,  but  failed  to  overtake  these 
marauders.  "Quite  a  noimlber  of  people  about  thia  time" 
says  Wilbarger,  "were  killed  around  Fo<rt  Marlin  a;ndthe 
settlement  robbed  of  an  immense  amounit  of  property — tiie 
Indians  djoing  aJl  they  could  to  break  it  up."  "For  some 
reason,"  continues  Wilbarger,  "the  Indians  fought  harder  to 
i'etain  the  Brazos  cou'ntry  than  any  portion  of  the  State. 
The  soil  of  no  St^ate  m  the  Union  has  been  crimsoned  with 
Ihe  blcjcd  of  so  many  brave  defenders  as  that  of  Texas — not 
even  excepting  Kentucky,   the  'dark  and  bloody  gtround."' 

Ini  the  summeo'  of  this  year,  James  Alexander,  one  of  the 
early  enid  valuable  citizenist  of  Bastrop,  and  his  son,  a  youth 
A>^  sixteen,  were  murdered,  by  Indians  at  the  head  of  Pin 
Oak  Creel?,  on  tlie  Wilbarger  "trace,"  near  its  intersec- 
tion with  the  old  La  Bahia  (Goliad)  road.  They  were  freight- 
ing goods  in  ox  wagonjs  from  Columbia  to  Bastrop,  and 
halted,  to  "noon,"  when  the  Indians,  under  cover  of  a  ra- 
^^ne,  crept  up  and  fired  at  such  close  range  as  to  powder- 
burn  the  clothing  of  the  two  "unsuspecting  men.  After 
*icalp(ing  anid  ihorribly  mutilating  the  bodies  of  thear  vic- 
tims, killing  the  oxen,  and  plunderdng  and  destroying  the 
wagons  and!  cocntenits,  the  fiends  left,  goang  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  "Fa,lls." 

The  bokiies  of  the  unfortninate  men  weire  discovered  by 
parties  travelling  the  Toad  a  few  hours  later,  when  the 
alarm  spread,  a  partty^  was  soon  organized,  and  in  pursuit, 
following  the  txadl  of  the  siavages  to  Little  River  where  it 
was  lost.  However,  the  party  continued  to  scour  the  coun- 
try, and  when  some  fifty-'  miles  above  tbe  "Falls"  of  the 
Braaos,  they  found  a  Caddo  Indian  who  was  captured  and 
forced  to  guide  them  to  hia  camp  some  five  miles  away, 
where  they  found  four  other  warriors,  aaid  two  squaws.  The 
whites  killed  the  five  warriors,  but  spared  the  women — aa 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  149 

act  that  at  least  pallktes  to  the  favor  of  the  whites,  since 
tbe<  Indfl'ariB  miake  no  disitinction  in  such  instances ;  sparing 
nieither  men,  •w'omien  ttioT  children. 

No  statement  Ixsaa  b'een  preserved  alleging  that  goods  or 
any  other  evadiences  were  discovered  in  the  camp  of  these 
Indians  implicating  them  in  the  murder  of  the  Alexan- 
dejis. 

Briefly,  in  closing  this  period,  we  miention  a  few  of  the 
many  incidents  and  tragedies  occurring  in  1835:  A  ]\Ir.  Al- 
bright was  killed  by  Indians  on  his  farm  near  Fort  Houston ; 
James  Boazman  (or  Botozeman),  was  killed  at  Boozeman's 
Ferry  on  the  Trinit^j' — he  had  dri^^en  his  wagon  into  the  river 
to  soak  and  swell  the  wheels,  when  Indians  killed  him  and 
carried  away  his  horses;  about  the  same  time  and  perhaps 
the  same  Indians,  (a  foot  party  of  ten  or  twelve)  killed 
Mr.  Bradley  Davis.  Davis  and  a  Mr.  Leathers  were  out 
bee  tree  hunting — Leathers  escaped  after  a  hard  race;  Tom 
Green  was  waylaid  and  killed  by  Indians  on  Keeohi  Creek 
in  what  is  now  Leom  county ;  two  families  named  Rity  were 
moving  west,  on  the  old  San  Antonio  road,  and  were  near 
the  Navasota  River,  when  they  were  attacked  by  Indians. 
They  corralled  their  wagons  and  per.pared  for  defense — 
one  of  the  men  was  killed  at  the  first  fire,  but  the  other, 
aided  by  the  women,  made  it  hot  for  the  red  skins,  causing 
them  to  finally  withdraw.  These  emigrants  retraced  their 
steps  back  east;  the  Indians  stole  some  horses  on  San  Pedro 
Bayou  and  were  pursued  by  a  small  party  of  men.  In  the 
charge  James  ^McLane  and  Isaac  Sheridan  were  killed  and 
the  remainder  of  the  party  forced  to  retreat;  at  another 
time  horses  were  stolen  and  a  party  of  settlers  went  in  pur- 
suit, ofvertakinig,  and  killing  some  of  the  Indians  on  th« 
Trinity.    In  the  fight  Wm.  Foster  was  killed. 

At  this  period  scouts  were  kept  in  the  woods  most  of  the 
tim«  watching  for  trails  and  signs  of  Indians  and  to    give 
al<arm6. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


HOUGH  ushered  1h  amid  dark  and  ominous 
war-clouds,  followed  by  a  series  of  the 
bloodiest  and  most  appalling  disasters  that 
ever  stained  the  history  of  any  land,  the 
year  of  1836 — most  memorable  in  the  an- 
nals of  Texas — soon  evolved  from  its  slough 
of  despair. 

The  campaign  of  1835  was  settled  by 
such  brilliant  and  complete  success  for 
Texan  arms,  as  to  render  wholly  unexpect- 
ed the  disasters  that  befell  them  in  1836  up  to  the  very 
moment  that,  with  the  suddenness  of  a  transformation 
wrought  by  Prosperous  wand,  the  cleuds  of  defeat  were  dis- 
pelled, April  21,  by  the  signal  victory  of  San  Jacinto,  and 
the  star  of  Texas,  no  longer  obscured  by  lurid  vapors,  blazed 
forth  steadily  and  serenely  from  a  clear  sky,  as  a,  new  orb 
in  the  galaxy  of  nations. 


BIRTH  OF    THE  LONE  STAR  REPUBLIC. 

The  siege  and  fall  of  the  Alamo;  the  destruction  of 
Grant  and  his  command  beyond  the  Neuces;  the  defeat  and 
annihilation  of  Johnson's  force  at  San  Patricio;  the  killing 
of  King  and  his  followers,  and  the  capture  of  "Ward  and 
liis  men  at  Refugio ;  the  surrender  of  Fannin  and  his  troops, 
and  their  subsequent  massacre,  together  with  that  of  Ward 
and  his  men  and  other  prisoners  of  war,  held  at  Goliad ;  the 
retreat  of  Gen.  Houston  from  Gonzales  to  the  Colorado,  and 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  151 

th«noe  to  th«  Brazoe,  exposing  to  the  devastating  and  san- 
guinary fury  of  Mexiean  soldiery,  all  the  settlements  in  Tex- 
as, save  those  on  Red  River  and  about  Nacogdoches  and  San 
Augustine ;  and  the  sweeping  forward  of  a  powerful  Mexi- 
can army  across  Texas  in  three  divisions,  from  the  western 
I'rontier  toward  the  Sabine,  like  a  drag  net,  constituted  a 
series  of  calamities  of  the  most  appalling  nature.  Apparent- 
ly they  portended  that  the  tragedy  enacted  on  the  plain  of 
Guadalupe,  in  Zacatecas',  was  to  have  a  dreadful  sequel  in 
Texas,  that  would  leave  the  despotism  of  Santa  Anna  firmly 
enthroned  from  the  western  confines  of  the  United  States  to 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  southward  to  the  Caribbean  Sea.  It 
seemed  probable  that  the  only  visible  reminders  that  would 
remain  of  the  effort  made  by  Anglo-American  civilization 
and  liberty,  to  plant  themselves  in  the  beautiful  and  pleas- 
ant land,  and  change  it  from  a  wilderness  into  a  well  or- 
dered and  populous  commonwealth,  would  be  the  graves  of 
patriot  heroes,  who  had  tried  and  failed. 

When  Gen.  Houston  fell  back  from  the  Colorado,  the 
greater  number  of  the  volunteers  with  him,  left  the  army 
to  hurry  to  their  homes  and  remove  their  families  eastward, 
before  the  Mexicans  reached  them. 

Panic-fear  among  the  defenseless  women  and  children, 
spread  like  fire  in  flax,  resulting  in  what  is  known  to  his- 
tory as  the  "Runaway  Serape.".  Nothing  could  allay  it. 
Thousands  of  women  and  children,  with  and  without  escort, 
thronged  all  the  routes  of  travel,  hurrying  afoot,  horse- 
back, and  in  vehicles  in  the  direction  of  Louisiana.  Women 
gave  birth  to  children  by  the  roadside  with  no  one  to  care 
for  them.  Many  of  the  sick  and  feeble  died  by  the  way. 
Back  of  those  who  constituted  the  anguished,  scattered, 
scurrying  throngs,  were  their  homes,  and  all  the  proper- 
ty they  had  accumulated  by  years  of  toil  and.  hardship. 
The  Mexican  troops  reduced  many  of  these  habitations  to 
ashes,  and  they  wantonly  destroyed  thousands  of  cattle  and 
horses. 

In  addition  to  all  this,  the  Indians  took  advantage     of 


152  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

the  confusion  and  weakened  power  of  resistance,  to  wage 
fiendish  warfare,  attended  by  murder  and  robbery. 

Parties  of  refugees  were  several  miles  east  of  the  battle 
ground  when  they  heard  the  booming  of  cannon  at  San  Ja- 
cinto. They  halted  to  await  news  of  the  issue  of  the  con- 
test. Couriers  dashed  along  the  roads  next  day  and  gave 
intelligence  of  the  splendid  and  decisive  triumph.  A  few 
more  days,  and  it  was  known  that  Santa  Anna  had  been 
captured  at  San  Jacinto,  and  that,  under  a  treaty  entered 
into  with  him,  all  the  Mexican  troops  in  Texas,  except 
those  captured  at  San  Jacinto,  were  on  the  march  back  to 
Mexico,  followed  by  a  Texan  force  that  buried  the  remains 
of  the  A'ictims  of  the  Goliad  massacre,  and  saw  that  tiie 
terms  of  the  agreement  were  observed. 

An  election  was  held  in  September,  at  wliich  the  consti- 
tution framed  by  the  Plenary  Convention  in  March,  was 
adopted,  and  a  president  and  vice  president,  members  of  con- 
gress and  other  officers,  were  chosen.  Congress  met  in 
October,  and  General  Sam  Houston,  as  president,  and  Mira- 
beau  B.  Lamar,  as  vice  president,  were  inaugurated;  and  the 
Republic  of  Texas  was  launched  upon  it«  glorious  career — 
extending  to  the  time  that  Texas  became  a  state  of  the 
American  Union  in  February,  1846. 

The  charred  bones  of  the  martyrs  of  the  Alamo  were 
collected  by  Seguin  from  the  ashes  of  the  pyres  upon  which 
their  bodies  had  been  consumed,  and  were  interred  at  the 
Cathedral  of  San  Fernando  in  San  Antonio.  The  people 
bent  themselves  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  new  destinies 
that  opened  before  them,  and  the  constructive  work  of 
builditig  a  noble  commonwealth,  consecrated  to  liberty, 
order,  peace,  prosperity,  enlightenment  and  progress, 
was  begun  in  earnest,  and  has  been  continued  to  this  day — 
with  results  that  prove  that  the  blood  that  was  shed,  the 
sacrifices  that  were  made,  and  the  sufferings  that  were  en- 
dured, were  not  in  vain. 

The  Texas  people  of  1836  mourned  that  Travis,  Bowie, 
BoDham,  Crockett,  Fannin  and  a  hoet  of  otk»€ri8  were  gone, 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  153 

and  •wer€  not  with  them  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  victory; 
this  sorrow,  too,  was  made  more  poignant  by  the  untimely 
lo«s  of  the  great  Stephen  P.  Austin,  also  the  noble  pa- 
triot, Loreuizo  de  Zavalla.  But  their  sorrowsi  were  tempered 
with  the  proud  joy  that  they  had  won  renown  and  deathless 
fame,  establishing  for  Texas,  memories  and  traditions  that 
conserve  patriotism  and  civile  virtute  to  remotetet  times.  "A 
land  without  memories  and  traditions  of  patriots  is'  a  land 
without  liberty." 

The  Texan  war  for  independence  in  some^  respects  is 
without  a  parallel,  and  the  final  victory  at  San.  Jacinto  will 
ever  rank  as  one  of  the  astonishing  feats  of  military  history. 
The  great  leader  in  that  campaign  and  victor  at  San  Ja- 
cinto, Sam  Houston,  (he  needs  no  title),  was  yet  long 
spared  to  the  people.  And)  he  it  was  that  so  well  and  faith- 
fully guided  and  guarded  the  destinies  of  the  dearly  bought 
new  land  of  liberty — the  Lone  Star  Republic. 

The  matter  of  the  Cherokee  claims  came  before  the 
Plenary  Convention,  but  was  not  finally  acted  upon,  owing 
to  the  haste,  confusion  and  alarm  that  prevailed. 

The  Cherokees  considered  their  rights  secure,  in  view 
of  the  action  taken  by  the  Consultation  in  1835,  and  of  the 
treaty  entered  into  with  them  in  January,  1836,  They, 
therefore,  remained  quiet.  But  Sam  Houston  was  the  factor 
that  kept  these  Indians  pacified  and  in  check.  Other  and 
hostile  Indians  glutted,  as  far  as  they  could,  their  lust  for 
revenge,  blood  and  plunder,  and  the  Texas  people  had  to 
fight  them  with  one  hand  while  they  fought  combined  Mexi- 
co with  the  other. 

Morfitt's  report  to  Secretary  Forsyth  in  1836,  gave  the 
following  estimate  of  the  number  of  Indians  in  Texas  at 
that  time:  Wacos,  400;  Tehuacanas,  200;  Tonkawas,  800, 
Cooshatties,  350;  Alabamas,  250;  Comanches,  2,000;  Caddos, 
500 ;  Lipans,  900 ;  smaller  bands,  800 ;  Cherokees  and  their  as- 
sociate bande,  8,000,  a  total  of  14,200. 


154  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

FAILURE  OF  BE  ALE'S  COLOKT. 

Noting  the  futile  efforts  of  tih-e  few  Engliish  colonists  unr 
der  Dr.  Joim.  Charles  Beale,  to  exist  on  the  extreme  bor- 
deafe  of  Texas,  or  ratlier,  at  that  time,  within  thie  limits'  of 
the  state  of  Tamaulipas,  between  the  Nueces  and  Rio 
Grande,  we  find  its  sequel  in  a  most  sad  and  bloody 
tragedy. 

In  1832  Dr.  Beale,  a  native  of  Bngrand,  but  then  resi- 
dent in  the  city  of  Mexico — having  married  the  widow  of 
Richard  Exeter,  an  English  merchant,  and  whose  maiden 
rame  was  Dona  Maria  Dolores  Soto — in  partnership  withi  one 
or  two  other  gentlemen,  secured  a  contract  or  permit  from 
the  State  of  Goahuila  and  Texas  for  colonizing  a  tract  of 
three  million  acres  between  the  rivers  Rio  Grande  and 
Nueces. 

Omitting  many  interesting  details  incident  to  its  estab- 
lishment and  brief  existence,  we  shall  \briefly  trace  the  his- 
tory of  this  colony  ais  gleaned  principally  from  Kennedy's 
"Texas" — ^^closimg  with  the  sad  sequel. 

The  first  and  so  far  as  we  can  find,  only  English  colony— 
fifty-nine  men,  women  and  children — sailed  from  New  York  on 
Novemiber  10th.,  1833,  in  the  schooner  Amos  Wright,  Capt. 
?donroe,  for  Aransas  Bay,  and  where  after  a  tempestuous  voy- 
age they  arrived  and  disembarked  on  the  12th.  of  December, 
gO'iog  into  camp,  and  remaining  thron^igilii  most  in- 
clement weather,  till  the  end  of  the  month.  On  the  3rd.  of 
Januiiry,  1834,  Dr.  Beale  ihaving  procured  teams  and  means 
of  transportation  from  Goliad,  the  party  left  overland  for 
the  interior.  The  weather  continued  very  wet  and  cold, 
and  much  suffering  was  experienced  by  the  "new  comers" 
on  the  route.  Crossing  the  San  Antonio  River  and  leaving 
Goliad  with  fresh  oxen  on  the  20th.,  they  arrived  at  the 
' '  Rancho ' '  of  Don  Erasmo  Seguin  at  noon  on  the  31st.  of 
January.  Borrowing  of  the  Don  five  yokes  of  oxen,  they 
pounded  on. 

"February  4th.,  made  an  early    start   reaching    a    small 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  155 

brook  called  the  Salado,  twelve  miles  distant,  where  we 
formed  our  camp  with  great  pre-caution,  as  thiis  place  ifl 
famous  for  the  murders  committed  by  the  Tahuacaaas, 
being  one  of  their  usual  resting  places." 

About  noon  on  the  following  day  the  travel-worn  emi- 
grants drove  into  San  Antonio.  "Bexar  is  one  of  the  poor- 
est, most  miserable  places  in  this  country.  The  Indians 
steal  all  their  horses,  rob  their  ramcheros  and  nearly  every 
week,  murder  some  one  or  two  of  the  inhabitants.  From 
want  of  union  and  energy,  they  tamely  submit  to  this  out- 
rage, which  all  admit  is  inflicted  by  a  f ew  Tahuacanas. " 

Resting  here  till  the  18th.  of  February,  the  now  more 
cheerful  colonists  left  Bexar  with  fifteen  carts  and  wagons 
for  their  final  destination  near  the  Rio  Grande.  Ten  days 
travel  from  San  Antonio  brought  them  to  the  Nueces  River 
— which  they  crossed  "with  the  English  and  Mexican  flags 
flying  and  the  people  cheering  most  enthusiastically" — and 
for  the  first  time  entered  the  lanlds  dasignated  as  Beale's 
Colony;  and  in  commemoration  of  which  event  one  of  the 
party,  Mr.  Little,  carved  upon  a  large  tree  on  the  west  bank: 
"Los  Primeros  Colonos  de  la  Villa  de  Dolores  pasaronel  28 
de  Febrero,  1834,"  the  English  rendition  being:  "The  first 
colonists  of  the  village  of  Dolores  passed  here  on  the  28th. 
of  February,  1834," — many  of  them,  alas,  never  to  pass  again. 

After  exploring  the  country  in  various  directions  and 
arranging  other  preliminaries,  the  little  band  of  colonists  fi- 
naVy  halted,  March  16,  on  the  Los  Moras  Creek,  below  the 
presenft  town  of  Del  Rio  and  some  ten  or  twelve  miles 
from  the  northeast  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande ;  and  where  they 
chose  the  site  for  the  proposed  village  of  Dolores — a  name 
bestowed  by  Dr.  Beale  in  honor  of  his  absent  wife.  Munic- 
ipal officers  were  now  elected,  the  corner  stone  of  a  church 
laid  with  much  ceremony,  tents,  huts,  and  cabins  erected, 
streets  and  plazas  platted,  and  the  foundation  for  a  perma- 
nent town  laid — including  the  building  of  a  brush  wall 
around  it  for  protection  against  the  wild  Indians,  who  then, 
as  for  generations  before  and  for     fifty    years  afterwards, 


156  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

■W€r€  a  terror  to  the  Mexican  population  of  that  frontier. 
"Hut  the  settlement  at  Dolores  diidi  not  prosper," 
says  Kennedy,  owimg  to  a  variety  of  causes;  of  whiGh 
the  principal,  apparently,  wais  the  absence  of  proper  quali- 
fications of  the  colonists  themselves.  A  drouth  prevailed  and, 
"without  irrigation,  the  colonists  failed  to  raise  crops ;  the  fre- 
quent murders  of  rancheros  by  Indians  caused  the  colonists 
much  apprehension  and  uneasiness,  lest  they  should  be 
attacked  by  the  savages.  As  time  passed  conditions 
grew  worse,  and  much  dissatisfaction  arose,  causing 
parties  of  the  settlers  to  leave  for  Manclova,  and 
other  Mexican  towns,  Santa  Pisa,  San  Fernando  and  other 
places,  and  still  others  for  the  coast  to  seek  V/esiseJis  and  re- 
turn passage  to  their  native  land — till  finally  on  the  17th. 
of  June,  1836,  the  settlement  was  entirely  abandoned,  the 
last  to  leave  being  Mr,  Palmer  and  seven  others  who  wenjt 
to  San  Fernando  where  we  lose  sight  of  them.  And  thus 
perished  the  bright  hopes  and  persevering  efforts  of  those 
ardent,  but  unfortimate  men  and  women,  to  sustain  them- 
selves and  acquire  a  home  and  heritage  in  the  wilds  of  the 
the  new  world.  In  the  language  of  historian  Kennedy, 
himself  an  Englishman,  and  chronicling  the  trials  and  fail- 
ures of  his  own  countrj^men:  "And  though  Dolores  ob- 
tained a  place  on  the  map,  it  had  no  pretentions  to  the 
name  o^  a  successful  settlement — further  supplying  evi- 
dence o^  the  superiority  of  the  Anglo-American  in  forming 
colonies.  The  North  Americans  are  the  only  people  who, 
in  defiance  of  all  obstacles,  have  struck  the  roots  of  civili- 
zation deep  into  the  soil  of  Texas.  Even  as  I  trace  these 
lines,  I  reflect  upon  their  progress  with  renewed  wonder 
and  admiration.  They  are,  indeed,  the  organized  conquer- 
ers  of  the  wild,  uniting  in  themselves  the  three  fold  afttri- 
butes  of  husbandmen,  lawgivers,  and  soldiers." 


THE  SAO  SEQUEL. 

And  now,  passing  over  the  truly  pathetic,  revolting  aJuA 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  157 

heaxt-rending  parts,  we  must  briefly  narrate  the  sad,  sad- 
dest of  all,  sequels — the  murder  of  th^e  last  twelve  colonists; 
capture  of  Mrs.  Horn,  Mrs.  Harris  and  thedr  children;  a  story 
replete  with  cruel  torture  and  sufferings  that  must  elicit 
deepest  sympathy,  and  cauae  even  the  maudlin  aentimentalist 
to  burn  with  ra»ge  and  imdignation. 

Among  other  discouiraged  setitlers  wene  a  party  of  eleven 
men,  including  John  Hom^  wife,  and  two  little  socs,  John 
and  Joseph ;  a  Mr.  Harris,  his  wife  and  three  months  old 
girl  baby,  probably  the  only  child  boru'  at  Dolores — in  all 
sixteen  souls — who  left  the  fated  settlement  on  the  10th.,  of 
March,  1836,  hoping  to  reach  the  coast  by  way  of  San  Patri- 
cio on  the  lower  Neuces,  and  obtain  passage  by  water  to 
other  and  more  favored  lands.  They  readhed  the  Neuces,  and 
camped  for  several  days  in  a  secluded  spot  near  what  they 
supposed  was  the  road  leading  to  San  Antonio.  They  pur- 
posely kept  from  view,  as  they  had  learned  of  Santa  Anna's 
invasion  of  Texas.  They  heard  teams,  and  men  on  horse- 
back passing,  and  supposed  them  to  belong  to  the  Mexican 
army.  The  party  resumed  their  journey  April  2.  Two  days 
later  while  camped  near  a  small  lake,  they  were  surround- 
ed and  attacked  by  fifty  or  sixty  Ck>manches,  who  killed 
all  of  the  men  outright,  except  Mr.  Harris  and  a  young  Ger- 
man whom  they  left  for  dead,  made  prisoners  of  the  wo- 
men and  children,  and  secreted  such  effects  of  the  colonists 
aj3  they  desired  to  appropriate,  and  destroyed  the  remainder. 
They  later  returned  to  the  scene  and  got  the  property  they 
liad  cached.  At  the  same  time  they  found  Mr.  Harris  and 
the  (rerman  alive  and  dragged  them  to  camp  and  murdered 
and  scalped  them  in  the  presence  of  the  agonized  prison- 
ers. A  savage  also  amused  himself  by  tossing  Mrs.  Harris's 
ir^fant  in  the  air  and  letting  it  fall  upon  the  ground  until  it 
was  dead.  The  Indians  were  part  o^  a  force  of  four  hun- 
dred Comanches  who  were  operating  in  the  rear  of  the  Mex- 
ican army,  plundering  and  murdering  without  regard  to  na- 
tionality. After  killing  several  Mexicans  and  Americans, 
the  entire  body  of  Indians  moved  northward,  out  of  Texas, 


158  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

after  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  and  to  th/edr  base    of      opera- 
tioDB  o«n  the  bead  waters  of  the  Arkansas. 

To  follow  these  two  "unfortunate  daughter®  in  their  mul- 
tiplied sorrows  and  tribulations;  to  tell  of  the  hellish  tor- 
tures endured  and  fiendish  treatment  experienced  —  all  the 
while  weeping  and  agonizing  over  the  fate  of  ttheir  innocent 
little  children — beggars'  belief,  and  would  cause  .bitjter  and 
burning  tears  to  well  up  thick  and  fast.  Beltter,  a  thousand 
times  better,  that  they  had  shared  the  fatte  of  their  husbands 
and  faithersi  on  th&t  fatal  Aptril  day,  and  that  their  bodies 
bad  been  lefit  ibo  devouring  vultures  and  coyotes,  and  their 
bonefe  to  bleach  on  the  lonely  pradries  of  Southwest  Tesas. 
Readetr!     We  will  draw  the  vedl  of  silence. 

On  the  outgoing  trip,  while  camped  near  Red  River,  Col. 
Holland  Coffee,  founder  of  Coffee's  Trading  House,  near 
where  Denison  now  stands,  on  Red  River,  visited  the  In- 
dian camp,  and  made  every  effort  possible  to  rescue  by  pur- 
chase the  two  poor  women — .offering  their  captors  any 
amount  of  gotods  or  money;  but  ^vithout  avail.  Th,e  tender- 
hearted and  noble  man,  it  is  said,  wept  bitterly  over  his  dis- 
appointment. Col.  Coffee  was  a  brave  and  good  man,  and 
a  valuable  pioneer  of  Northeast  Texas,  and  it  is'  sad  to  re- 
flect that  he  died  at  the  hands  of  an  assassin  a  few  years 
later.  , 

Finally,  in  June,  1837,  Mrs.  Harris  wae  ransomed  by 
American  traders,  acting  under  instructions  from  Willifam 
Donaho,  a  pihilan/tlhropic  Santa  Fe  merchant.  At  the  same 
time  they  tried  to  buy  Mrs.  Horn,  but  wnthout  success.  A 
little  later,  however,  Sept.  19,  1837,  she  was  purciliiased  at 
San  Miguel,  N.  M.,  by  a  Mexican  acting  for  Donaho.  But 
in  a  few  days  a  igrasping  and  heartless  merchant  of  itilie  place, 
disgracing  the  fair  name  of  Hill,  set  up  a  claim  that  he 
h;ad  fumisihed  goods  for  her  release  and  tihat  he  should  have 
her  as  a  servant.  He  obtained  a  judgment  in  his  favor 
from  the  alcalde,  and  kept  'her  in  brutal  slavery  for  a  short 
"while — allowing  her  barely  sufficient    food   to   sustain  life. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  159 

HeariDg  of  her  pitiabk  condition,  a  Mr.  Smith,  who  lived 
at  th'C  mines,  some  distance  away,  sent  an  armed  party, 
who  brought  her  to  his  house,  wh^ere  his  family  tenderly 
cared  for  her.  She  was  now  soon  conveyed  from  Taos,  N. 
M.,  to  Indiependenoe,  Mo.,  by  Messrs.  Workman  and  Row- 
land, in  1838,  and  in  October  of  that  year  became  for  some 
time,  a  guest  of  Mr.  David  Workman  and  family  at  New 
Franklin. 

In  the  autumn  of  1837,  Mr  Donaho  escorted  IMrs.  Plum- 
mer  (one  of  the  captives  taken  at  Parker's  Fort  in.  1836), 
and  Mrs.  Harris  to  Missouri.  He  left  Mrs.  Harris  with  his 
mother-in-law,  Mrs.  Lucy  Dodson,  in  Pulaski  county,  Mo., 
took  Mrs.  Plummer  to  her  relatives  in  Texas;  and  then  in 
1838,  returned  to  Santa  Fe.  Mrs.  Horn  was  rans'Omed  dur- 
ing his  absence,  which  accounted  for  his  not  being  present 
(to  take  charge  of  her  wh^i  she  was  released  by  the  Indians. 
He  went  to  Taos  to  see  her,  but  learned  ithat  she  had  re- 
cently departed  for  Missouri  with  Workman  and  Rowland, 
and  several  other  persons  bound  for  Independence.  During 
the  year  Mr.  Donaihoi  wound  up  his  business  at  Santa  Fe 
and  went  to  Missouri,  where  he  resided  until  1839,  when  he 
located  at  Clarksville,  Texas,  which  was  thereafter  his  home 
until  the  time  of  his  death.  Some  of  his  descendants  are 
still  residing  there  and  in  Red  River  county.  When  he 
came  back  to  Missouri,  Mrs.  Horn  went  to  see  him,  learned 
who  it  was  that  had  restored  her  to  freedom,  and  thanked 
him  with  words  such  as  only  a  poor  captive  could  utter — 
simple  words  bujt  sweeter  to  have  than  all  the  incense  that 
has  ever  floated  upward  from  golden  censers.  Neither 
she  nor  ^Mrs.  Harris  lived  long  after  their  restoratian  to 
civilization. 

Mrs.  Horn  published  a  small  pamphlet  giving  an  account 
of  her  life  up  to  the  time  she  was  recovered  from  the  In- 
dians. But  one  copy  of  tfei^  rare  pamphlet  is  known  to  be 
in  existence. 

Some  of  the  experiences  tliat  she  details  are  such  as  to 


160  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

dry  whatever  tears  one  might  be  disposed  to  shed  over  the 
fate  of  the  Ladian. 

A  single  ineident  will  suffice  to  indicate  the  rest. 

On  one  occasion,  while  crossing  a  ford,  her  little  soa 
Joseph,  slipped  from  tihe  back  of  the  mule  into  the 
water.  An  Indian,  enraged  at  the  accident,  struck  h.im  with, 
a  lance,  inflicting  a  severe  woumd,  and  kno<ikinig  himi  into 
the  water,  none  of  the  other  Indians  interfering.  The  child 
swam  to  thje  bank,  ''bleeding  like  a  slaughtered  animal." 
Mrs.  Horn  upbraided  the  Indian  for  his  conduct.  He  made 
the  boy  travel  on  foot  and  drive  a  mule  for  the  rest  of  rt^he 
day,  and  at  night  called  Mrs.  Horn  to  him  and  gave  her  an 
unmerciful  beating  with  the  whip. 

She  says:  "When  the  savage  monster  was  done  whip- 
ping me,  he  took  his  knife  and  literally  sawed  the  hair 
from  my  head.  It  was  quite  lonig,  amd  when  he  had  com- 
pleted the  operation,  he  tied  it  to  his  own  as  an  ornament. 
*  *  *  At  this  time  we  had  tasted  no  food  for  two  days, 
and  in  hearing  of  the  moans  of  my  starving  children,  bound 
as  on  every  nigilit,  mothers  may  judge,  if  they  can,  of  my 
repose.  The  next  day  a  wild  horse  was  killed  and  we  were 
allowed     to     partake    of    the  flesh. 

"During  the  same  day  tJie  Indians  amused  themselves  by 
throwing  the  two  boys  into  a  stream,  time  and  ^ain  as 
fast  as  they  swam  out,  until  the  children  were  partiall/" 
unconscious  and  unable  to  stand.  Their  bodies  were  bad- 
ly bruised  and  water  came  from  their  stomachs  in  gurgles. 
Little  Joseph's  wounded  face  was  swollen  almost  beyond 
recognition." 

What  became  of  the  children  was  never  known.  Th^ 
disappeared  in  the  devouring  darkness,  like  characters  of 
Victor  Hugo  in  Les  Miserables,  and  baffled  fancy  seeks  to 
follow  them  in  vain. 


MURDER  OF  DOUGLAS  AND   DAUGHERTY  FAMILIES. 

Among  other  belated  settlers  who   were   hastily  impro- 
vising means  of  conveyance   with  which  to  join  in  the  wiW. 


Ben  McCulloch 
3.     Col.  John  C.  Hays.  "Jack' 


2.     Henry  McCulloch 
'Jack"    Hays  as  a  Regular  in  1840 


1.    Isaac  Parker 

3.     Cynthia   Ann  Parker 


2.     I.  D.  Parker 
4.     Quannah  Parker 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  161 

flight — "the  runaway  scrape" — ^across  Texas  in  advance  of 
the  Mexican  army  of  invasion,  in  March,  1836,  were  two 
Irish  families,  John  Douglas,  wif^  and  children,  and  .... 
Daugherty,  a  widower  with  three  children — the  parents,  na- 
tives of  Irelamd,  but  more  recently  of  Cambria  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  their  children  were  born,  and  from 
whence  they  had  removed  to  Texas,  in  1832,  settling  to- 
gether in  a  somewhat  isolated  section,  on  Douglas  or  Clark 
Creek,  some  twelve  miles  from  the  present  site  of  Halletts- 
ville,  in  Lavaca  county. 

Ere  they  had  completed  sleds  on  which  to  transport 
their  househoild  effects,  most  of  the  families  in  that  section 
had  already  left  for  the  east.  Ready  to  start  on  the  morn- 
ing of  March  4th,  Augustine  and  Thaddeus  Douglas,  aged 
respectively  fifteen  and  thirteen,  were  sent  out  iin  the  range 
for  the  oxen  designed  to  draw  the  sleds.  Returning  in 
the  afternoon,  and  when  near  home,  they  were  horrified  to 
behold  the  cabins  in  flames  and  surrounded  by  a  band  of 
painted  warriors,  whose  yells,  mingled  with  agonizing  death 
screams,  told  only  too  plainly  of  the  massacre  that  was  in 
progress.  Unarmed  and  helpless,  the  two  boys  could  only 
seek  their  own  safety,  which  they  did  by  hiding  in  a  dense 
thicket,  where  they  remained  till  night.  Under  cover  of 
darkness,  they  cautiously  approached  the  spot — once  a  home 
of  life  and  happiness,  now  a  scene  of  death  and  multiplied 
grief.  A  brief  examination  revealed  to  them  the  awful, 
shocking  tragedy — the  home  and  effects  in  smouldering 
ruins;  tbedr  father,  motftier,  sister  and  little  brother;  Mr. 
Daugherty,  his  son  and  two  daughters,  all  dead,  scalped,  mu- 
tilated and  lying  naked  in  the  yard — eight  souis  thus  brutal- 
ly snatched  from  earth.  ''ImQ(giniation,"  says  John  Henry 
Brown,  ''especially  when  aissured  that  those  two  boys  were 
noted  for  gentle  and  affectionate  natures,  as  personially 
known  to  the  writer  for  a  numher  of  years,  may  depict 
the  forlorn  angusiili  pierccmg  their  young  hearts.  It  was  a 
scene   over  whieh  amgeils  weep." 

The  two  boys,  having  some   idea  as  to   course,  now  set 
out  with  bleeding  hearts  for  tie  little  settlement  in  the  vi- 


162  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

clnity  of  what  is  now  Hallettsville,  but  finding  all  had  re- 
treated, continued  down  the  Lavaca  some  thirty-five  miles 
further,  to  where  their  older  sister,  the  wife  of  Capt.  John 
McHenry,  and  a  few  others  lived,  but  found  that  they  too, 
had  left.  Thus  nonplussed,  fatigued  and  almost  famished, 
the  heart-broken  youths  plodded  their  way  along  the  old 
Atascosa  road,  and  when  near  the  crossing  on  the  Colo- 
rado River,  they  were  picked  up  by  some  Mexican  scouts 
sud  carried  in  to  General  Adrian  "Woll's  camp,  where  they 
related  their  sad  story.  The  boys  were  treated  kindly  and 
were  soon  placed  in  the  care  of  one  Auguste,  a  French- 
man, and  a  traitor  to  Texas,  and  who  had,  with  a  band  of 
confederates,  mostly  negroes,  "rounded  up"  the  cattle  of  re- 
treating citizens,  and  rendezvousing  on  Cummings  Creek,  was 
supplying  "WoU's  airmy  with  beef  at  exorbiitaint  prices. 
Here  they  renuained,  vii-tually  as  oaiptives,  till  after  the  battle 
of  San  Jacinto,  and  the  retreat  of  tihe  Mexioaoi  army. 

Again  quoting  Brown's  narrative:  "Auguste,  mount- 
ing Augustine  Douglas  on  a  fine  horse,  sent  him 
down  to  learn  wdien  WoU  could  start.  In  the  mean- 
time a  party  of  Texans,  headed  by  Allison  York,  who 
had  heard  of  Auguste 's  thieving  den,  hurried  forward  to 
■chastise  him  before  he  could  leave  the  country  with  his 
booty.  He  punished  them  severely,  all  who  could,  fleeing 
imto  the  bo'ttom,  and  themce  to  Woll's  camp.  When  York's 
party  opened  fire,  little  Thaddeus  Doufglas,  not  undeirstand- 
ing  the  cause,  fled  down  the  road,  and  in  about  a  mile  met 
his  brother  returning  from  Woll's  camp  on  Auguste 's  fine 
horse.  With  equal  prudence  and  financial  skill,  they  deter- 
mined ito  save  both  themselves  and  the  horse.  Thaddeus 
mounting  behind,  they  started  a<t  double  quick  for  the  Braz- 
os. Thej'  had  not  traveled  many  miles,  however,  when 
they  met  the  gallant  Capt.  Henry  W.  Karnes,  at  the  head 
of  some  cavalry,  from  whom  they  learned  for  the  first  time, 
of  the  victory  of  San  Jacinto,  and  that  they  yet  would  see 
Iheir  only  surviving  sister  and  brother-in-law,  Mrs.  and 
Capt.  McHenry.    In  writing  of  this  incident  in    De  Bow's 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  16a 

Review  of  December,  1853,  eighteen  years  after  its  occur- 
rence, I  used  tMs  language: 

'These  boys,  tilius  rendered  objects  of  sympathy,  formed 
a  link  in  the  legends  of  the  old  Texans,  and  still  reside  on 
the  Lavaca,  much  respected  for  their  courage  and  moral  de- 
portment.' 

**This  was  said  thirty-four  years  ago.  It  is  a  still 
greater  pleasure  to  say  now  that  they  ever  after  bore  hon- 
orable characters  and  were  both  living  a  short  time  since^ 
as  I  think  their  sister  is;  bu(t  the  noble  old  patriot  in  three 
revolutions — Mexico  in  1820,  South  America  in  1822,  and 
Texas  in  1835 — preceded'  by  gallant  conduct  at  New  Orleans 
in  1815,  when  only  sixteen  years  old — the  honest,  brave  and 
ever  true  son  of  Erin's  Isle,  Capt.  John  McHenry,  died  a 
few  years  ago,  leaving  a  memory  sweetly  embalmed  in  many- 
thousand  hearts." 


PIONEER  TIMES  IN  ROBERTSON'S  COLONY  —  TRIALS 

OF  THE  FIRST  SETTLERS  ABOUT  THE   "THREE 

FORKS"  OF  LITTLE  RIVER. 

During  the  latter  half  of  1835,  and  throughout  1836,  the 
Indians — Tehuacanas,  Wacos  and  Comanches — if  not  combin- 
ing, vied  with  each  other,  as  it  were,  in  the  frequency  of 
their  depredations  and  deviltry,  being  exceedingly  hostile  to 
wards  the  settlers  of  Robertson's  Colony,  especially  to 
thoso  more  exposed  about  the  Falls  oif  the  Brazos,  Naslli- 
vlile,  about  the  Three  Forks  of  Little  River,  and  on  the 
San  Gabriel. 

"In  the  month  of  February,  1836,"  says  De  Cordo- 
va, "a  company  of  rangers  were  stationed  as  high  up  the 
country  as  the  "Waco  village,  *  *  *  but,  from  the  scarcity 
of  provisions  and  the  difficulty  of  conveying  the  small  quan- 
tity of  the  necessaries  of  life,  (and  few  indeed  were  they 
that  theso  efficient  frontier  soldiers  required),  they  were 
forced  to  fall  back  to  the  "Falls";  and,  notwithstanding  all 
these  exertions,  duining  the  months  of  April,  May  and  June, 
inai-umeraible  were  the  acts  of  cruelt;j^,  and  imanense  were  tihe 


164  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

depredations,  committed  by  the  savages.  And,  in  conae- 
qu-enee  of  the  poverty  of  the  government,  these  rangers 
"Were  disbanded,  and  for  a  time  the  magnificent  region  of 
country  between  the  Colorado  and  the  Brazos  was  deserted 
ty  the  white  man.  But,  as  the  settlers  had  for  a.  time 
deserted  this  region  of  country,  and  as  there  was  no  fur- 
ther inducement  for  the  savages  to  steal,  tlhey,  too,  retired 
to  their  villages  on  the  Brazos,  as  they  deemed  themselves 
miore  secure  highelr  up  tihe  country,  where  they  could  enjoy 
■and  revel  in  the  fruits  of  their  predatory  excursd'Ons,  unmio- 
lested." 

For  two  or  three  years  after  the  introduction  of  its  first 
settlerB  im  the  early  30 's,  Robertson's  Colony  received 
but  few  accessions.  However,  the  beauty  and  fertility  of 
that  section  soon  attracted  the  attenion  of  home-seekers, 
and  from  about  1834- '5  they  commenced  to  arrive  and  to 
locate  on  the  more  desirable,  but  also  more  exposed,  sec- 
tions, especially  in  and  around  Nashville,  the  capitail  lof  the 
colony,  near  itftie  mouth  of  Little  River  and  alonig  that 
stream  as  high  up  as  tihe  "llhree  Forks."  Among  other  fa-m- 
ilies  were  the  McLennans,  Davidsons,  Crouch,  the  Childers 
brothers,  Rileys  and  Taylors;  special  mention  of  which  has 
already  been  or  will  be  made. 

Following  the  return  from  the  army  and  the  "runaway 
scrape,"  after  the  victory  at  San  Jacinto,  April  21,  most 
of  these  settlers  repaired  to  their  abandoned  homes  and 
claims. 

"During  the  previous  winter,"  says  Brown,  "each head 
of  a  family  and  one  or  two  single  men  had  cleared  about 
forty  acres  of  ground  on  his  own  land,  and  had  planted 
corn  before  the  retreat.  To  euitivaite  this  corn  and  thus 
have  bread,  was  the  incentive  to  an  early  return." 

Temporarily,  the  families  of  most  of  those  who  returned 
to  cultivate  their  crops,  remained,  for  safety,  in  the 
town  of  Nashville,  then  the  highest  up  settlement  and  refuge 
on  that  frontier. 


BORD-ER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  165 

KILLING  OF  CROUCH  AND  DAVIDSON. 

Thus  matters  stood  till  about  ihe  first  week  in  June, 
•when  two  messengers,  John  Beal  and  Jack  Hopson,  arrived 
at  the  "Thre€  Forks"  from  Nashville,  bringing  the  sad  news 
of  Parker's  Fort  massacre,  on  the  19th  of  the  previous 
month ;  advising  these  toiling  men  of  their  great  peril  and 
urging  them  to  kave  at  once,  as  numerous  parties  of  hos- 
tile Indians  were  traversing  the  country  and  were  in  that 
vicinity.  Heeding  this  advice,  immediate  preparatioms  were 
made  to  retreat  in  a  body  to  Nashville. 

The  entire  party  consisted  of  Capt.  Gouldsby  Childress, 
wife,  four  sons,  Robert,  Frank  and  two  small  boys,  two 
grown,  and  one  eight  year  old  daughter;  Rhoads  (an  old 
gentleman  living  with  the  family),  Ezekiel  Robertson,  Or- 
ville  T.  Tyler,  Rev.  Jasper  Crouch,  Dr.  Robert  Davidson, 
....  Shackelford,  the  two  messengers,  Beal  and  Hopson — 
in  all  seventeen  souls,  of  whom  but  ten  were  really  able 
to  bear  arms.  Their  only  vehicle  was  a  wagon  to  be  drawn 
by  a  sdngle  pair  oif  oxen — they  had  some  horses  but  not 
enough    to  mount  the  entire  party. 

Starting  on  the  third  day  of  June,  their  first  day's  jour- 
ney brought  them  to  the  cabins  of  Henry  Walker,  James 
(Camel  Back)  Smith  and  Monroe,  on  Walkers  Creek,  about 
eight  miles  east  of  the  present  town  of  Cameron,  in  Milam 
county ;  and  where  they  camped  for  the  night.  The  three 
last  named  families  not  being  ready,  the  original  party  left 
on  their  journey  early  the  following  morning,  hoping  to 
reach  Nashville  by  the  close,  or  in  the  night,  of  that  day. 
But  they  were  doomed  to  disappointment — some  alas!  never 
to  reach  their  destination  and  loved  ones. 

On  that  fatal  June  morning,  and  when  about  three 
milee  from  Walker's,  enroute  via  the  Smith  crossing  of 
Little  River — "Davidson  and  Crouch  about  three  hundred, 
Captain  Childress  about  one  hundred,  jnards  ahead,  and  two 
or  three  men  i>efhaps  two  hundred  yarde  behind,  driving 
some  cattle" — a  party  of  perhaps  two  hundred  mounted 
and  painted   Comanche  warriore  daehcd  uiH>n  them.     Ghil- 


166  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

dress,  calling  to  Davidson  and  Crouch,  regained  his  wagon, 
and  hasty  preparations  were  made  for  defense.  Keeping 
well  out  of  rifle  range,  the  Indiana  commenced  encircling 
the  apparemtly  docaned  party,  at  tihe  same  moment  diilsKJOv- 
ering  Davidson  and  Crouch,  who  had  failed  to  join  their 
comrades,  a  large  party  attacked  them.  Being  poorly  mount- 
ed, the  two  unfortunate  men  made  a  bold  stand  and  a 
brave  fight,  killing  one  or  two  of  the  enemy,  but  were  sioon 
overpowered  and  both  slain,  scalped  and  mutilated.  *'Then 
followted,"  says  Brown,  ''great  ex/citement  among  the  In- 
dians, apparently  quarreling  over  the  disposiion  of  the 
scalps  and  effects  of  the  two  murdered  men.  This  enabled 
the  main  party  to  reach  a  grove  of  timber  about  four  hun- 
dred yards  distant,  where  they  turned  the  oxen  loose  and 
only  sought  to  save  their  lives." 

At  this  eritlLcal  momemt,  and  just  as  the  siavages  were  re- 
turning en  masse  to  renew  the  attack,  the  two  young  men, 
JBeal  and  Hopson,  seized  with  panic,  succeeded  in  making 
their  escape. 

Again  the  Indians  circled  around,  yelling,  firing  and 
maneuvering  to  "draw  a  fire  from  the  little  band,"  but  they 
presented  a  bold  front  and  reserved  their  charges.  Shack- 
lelford,  who  could  speak  the  Comanche  tongue,  challenged 
ithem  to  charge  at  closer  quarters,  but  believing  the  brave 
little  party  well  armed  and  determined,  the  wily  Coman- 
ches  kept  aloof  and  eventually  gave  up  the  attack,  mov- 
inig  off  to  the  west.  In  close  order  the  beseiged  now  re- 
itreated,  changing  their  cours»e  to  "the  raft,"  four  or  five 
toaHes  distant  on  Little  River,  on  which  they  crossed,  swim- 
jming  their  horses,  secured  a  favorable  camp  for  the  night, 
land  arrived  at  Nashville  early  next  day.* 

♦"During  the  next  day,"  says  John  Henry  Brown,  "Smith,  Monroe  and  Walker,  with 
their  families,  arrived.  Immediately  on  leaving  the  other  party,  the  Indians  had  attacked 
the  three  families  in  Walker's  house  and  kept  up  a  fire  all  day  without  wounding  either  of 
the  defenders,  who  fired  deliberately  through  port-holes  whenever  opportunity  offered. 
While  not  assured  of  killing  a  single  Indian,  they  were  perfectly  certain  of  having  wound- 
■ed  a  considerable  number.  As  night  came  on  the  Indians  retired,  and  as  soon  as  satisfied 
of  their  departure,  the  three  families  left  for  Nashville,  and  arrived  without  further  mo- 
Hestation."— "Indian  Wars  and  Pioneers  of  Texas,"  p,  44. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  167 

Robertson's  Colony  played  a  most  prominent  part  ia 
the  settlement  and  development  of  Texas — its  outer  set- 
tlements truly  constituting  the  advance  guards  of  civiliza- 
tion, but  the  growth  of  the  colony  during  its  first  years 
•waa  slow  and  of  uncertain  permanency.  In  1S33,  there 
were  only  fivo  persons  settled  within  its  limits  above 
the  Yegua,  west  of  the  Brazos.  In  1834,  the  town 
of  Viesca  at  the  Falls  of  the  Brazos,  was  laid  off  by  Ster- 
ling C.  Robertson,  its  name  being  afterwards  changed  to 
Fort  Milam.  Nearby  was  Fort  Sullivan,  afterwards  called, 
"Bucksnort."  Early  in  1835  considerable  additions  were 
made  to  the  colony — ^small  settlements  commencing  on  Pond 
Creek  and  on  Little  River.  Tenoxtitlan,  first  as  a  noted 
crossing  of  the  old  San  Antonio  and  Nacogdoches  road, 
then  as  an  important  Mexican  military  garrison,  and  in  the 
'30 's,  as  a  colonial  hamlet,  was  some  twenty  miles  below 
Nashville  on  the  Brazos.  The  place  is  now  defunct  and  al- 
most forgotten. 

Nashville,  as  the  capital  of  the  colony,  and  about  central 
with  reference  to  the  colony  limits,  was  situated  on  a  most 
lovely  and  eligible  site,  a  beautiful  prairie  plains  on  the 
south  bank,  overlooking  the  Brazos,  about  two  miles  below 
the  mouth  of  Little  River,  and  five  miles  nortliwest  from 
the  present  town  of  Hearne,  in  Milam  county — The  Interna- 
tional and  Great  Northern  railroad  bridge  spanning  the  river 
a  few  hundred  yards  below  th^e  site  of  this  now  dead  town. 
A  number  of  bold  springs  gushed  forth  from  the  bluff,  "the 
landscape  o'er"  was  most  picturesque,  and  it  is  no 
wonder  that  settlers  were  attracted,  and  would  want  to 
locate  in  ,and  around  this  beautiful,  once  colonial  capital. 
Its  exact  incipiency  is  not  known,  but  certain,  it  is  that  the 
empresario  Robertson  viewod  the  site  in  the  middle  '20 's,  he 
and  his  partner,  Alex  S.  Thompson,  were  there  in  1831 — ^the 
latter  locating  with  his  family,  and  doubtless  erected  the 
first  cabin.  But  very  few  residienta  wero  there  in  the  -early 
30 's.  A  few  settlers  came  as  learly  as  1834,  and  icarly  in 
1835,  and  more  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  this  latter  year. 

The  town  was  regularly  laid  out  in   tlie  fall  of  1835  by 


168  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Gen.  Thcs,  J.  Chambers,  who  had  previously  located  an 
eleven  league  grant,  covering  ihe  site.  This  grant  was 
long  in  litigation,  during  the  days  of  the  Republic,  but  it 
is  not  remembered  how  the  suit  was  finally  settled. 
At  no  period  of  its  existence,  according  to  the  memory  of 
Frank  Brown,  was  the  place  very  populous — perhaps  not 
over  15  cr  20  permanent  resident  families — "There  were 
many  comers  and  goers  from  time  to  time." 

Plere  the  records  were  kept  and  the  business  of  the  colo- 
ny transacted,  and  later,  as  the  capital  of  Milam  Land  Dis- 
trict, from  1837  to  1846,  it  became  quite  an  important  place 
— till  Cameron  finally  rivaled,  and  became  the  permanent 
eounty  seat  of  Milam  county.  It  continued  as  a  post-of- 
fice, at  least  till  about  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War. 


CAPT.  HILL'S  FORTUNATE  SCRAP. 

Late  in  August  Captain  Hill,  scouting  with  a  small  com- 
pany of  rangers  on  the  San  Gabriel,  discovered  the  trail 
of  foot  Indians,  near  the  mouth  of  Brushy  Creek,  leading  to- 
ward the  lower  country.  After  a  rapid  pursuit  without  halt 
or  rest,  of  about  twenty-four  hours,  the  enemy — twenty  Cad- 
des — were  overtaken  and  a  desperate  fight  ensued — the 
odds  for  a  time  in  favor  of  the  Indians,  who  had  taken  favor- 
able position  in  a  dense  thicket.  In  the  end,  however,  sever- 
al of  the  red  men  were  kili'ed  and  wounded  and  the  others 
routed  in  confusion,  leaving  their  camp  equipage — among 
other  trophies  a  large  number  of  scalps  taken  from  white 
people  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages.  By  this  timely  action  the 
sparse  and  unprotected  settlers  at  a  point  in  the  post  oaks 
between  the  Yegua  and  Little  Rivers  and  in  what  is  now 
Burleson  county,  was  no  doul)t  saved  from  a  serious  visita- 
tion. 


MUBDKR  AND  CAPTURE  OF  THE  McLSNNANB. 

Prominent  among  the  early  frontier    settlero    of    Texas, 
were  the  McLencans,  and  one  of  tbe  most  tragic  episodes 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  169- 

to  be  recorded,  is  the  fate  which  befell   cue   of  these  fami- 
lies. 

Neil  McLennan,  Sr.,*  was  a  native  of  the  Highlands  of  Scot- 
land, born  in  the  year  1777,  and  emigrated  with  a  large 
family  and  relatives  to  America  in  1802,  settling  in  the  state: 
of  North  Carolina,  where  they  remained  till  about  1820, 
"When,  impelled  by  a  brave,and  adventurous  spirit,  in  com- 
pany with  one  companion,  he  determined  to  explore  the 
wilderness  of  Florida.  Without  a  path  or 'guide,  they  pene- 
trated and  explored  the  dense  forests  of  west  Florida,  trav- 
eling on  foot,  burdened  with  their  guns,  axes,  provisions  and 
blankets."  To  this,  then  terra  incog.,  the  McLennans  soon 
removed,  halting  there  until  the  year  1834,  "when,  having 
heard  of  the  great  and  peculiar  advantages  of  Texas,  he,  to- 
gether with  his  brothers,  a  few  friends  and  their  families, 
removed  to  that  country."  "They  purchased  a  schooner  at 
Pensacola,"  continues  a  biographer,  "loaded  her  with  their 
worldly  goods  and  navigated  her  themselves,"  arriving  safe- 
ly at  the  mouth  of  the  Bra2X)s  on  January  14,  1835.  Pro- 
ceeding up  that  river  to  a  point  in  what  is  now  Fort  Bend 
•county,  they  struek  a  snag,  sinking  the  frail  craft,  but  sue- 
ceede-d  in  saving  most  of  their  household  effects  and  pro- 
visions. Procuring  oxen  and  improvising  carts  they  slowly 
'Continued  up  country  reaching  Robertson's  colony  early  in 
April — settling  near  the  mouth  of  Pcnd  Creek  in  what  is 
now  Falls  county." 

Misfortunes,  it  seems,  beset  these  colonists  almost  from 
the  very  day  they  reached  their  destination — this  "land  of 
promise."'  Not  satisfied  with  Ihe  Pond  Creek  country,, 
one  of  the  McLennan 's,  more  venturesome  than  prudent,  inth& 
latter  part  of  1835  or  early  in  1836,  loaded  his  effects,     and 


»"Neil  McLennan."  says  Capt.  Davidson,  who  as  a  boy,  knew  him  at  the  villagre  of 
Nashville,  "was  the  aoul  of  honor,  and  a  most  useful  citizen— When  a  couple  wanted  togret 
married  they  would  always  send  for  "Squire"  McLennan.  Have  eeen  him  unite  sevaial' 
ooaples— the  occasion  always  bein?  one  of  much  frolic  and  feasting  and  one  looked  forward 
to  with  much  anticipations  of  pleasure  by  those  pioneer  people  of  few  and  simple  pastimes. 
I  kacw  the  McLennans  well,  and  can  truly  say  that  among  the  eArty  pioneers  of  Texas  there  ■ 
wae  Dot  to  be  found  a  grander  or  nobler  gentleman  than  Neil  McLennan."— DavidsoB's  Let-- 
Ur-»-36-l«7. 


170  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

with  his  wife,  two  small  boys,  and  an  infant,  removed  to  a 
jnore  desirable  loeation  on  the  San  Gabriel,  at  a  point  in 
what  is  now  Williamson  count/.  Arriving  at  this  new  home- 
place,  it  was  found  they  were  out  of  meat.  Mr.  McLennan, 
taking  his  gun  and  the  oldest  boy,  went  in  search  of  game, 
leaving  his  wife  and  two  other  children,  to  "keep  camp." 
Becoming  lo&t,  he  did  not  return  until  dark,  when  he  found 
the  camp  plundered  and  his  loved  cncs  gone.  Indians  had 
^discovered  the  "new  comers"  and  visited  them,  capturing 
ih-e  mother  and  her  two  children.  In  fiendish  glee  they 
.stripped  their  captives  of  every  vestage  of  apparel  and  tied 
them  ffist,  while  they  plundered  the  camp.  Breaking  open 
a.  large  trunk  they  found  a  "looking  glass" — lapparently  a 
great  curiosity  to  the  Indians,  who  became  very  much  ab- 
scrbed,  performing  many  antics  over  and  around  the  mir- 
ror. 'Taking  advantage  of  this,  and  at  a  time  when  the  In- 
dians were  some  little  distance  away,  Mrs.  McLennan  un- 
tied herself  and  child,  and  taking  her  infant,  quietly  moved 
off,  moticning  her  littLe  boy  to  follow.  Reaching  the  San 
Gabriel  bottom  she  found  a  sheltering  roclv  under  which 
she  concealed'  herself  and  children.  So  absorbed  were  the 
Indians  in  plundering  the  camp  and  playing  wdth  the  mys- 
terious glass,  they  did  no^t  miss  their  captives  until  late;  a 
hurried  search  was  made,  but  the  hiding  refugees  fortunate- 
ly, escaped  the  viigilant  observations,  the  Indians  leaving  as 
night  came  on. 

Naturally  supposing  his  wife  and  babies  had  been  cap- 
tured, and  perhaps  murdered,  jNIcLennan,  with  his  little 
^'(H,  set  out  for  the  settlements  many  miles  below.  The  re- 
fugees remained  in  hiding  all  night,  suffering  much  from 
•cold,  aird  in  the  morning  a  few  remnants  of  clothing  were 
found,  also  a  little  corn  scattered  in  the  dust,  and  which 
was  their  only  sustenance.  In  this  terrible  condition,  al- 
most famished  and  naked,  these  helpless  beings  remained  for 
several  days,  until  the  husband  and  father  returned  from 
the  settlement,  with  a  small  company  raised  for  the  purpose 
-of  pursuit  and  the  hope  of  rescue. 

^Approaching  the  camp,  Mrs.  McLennan  was  discovered 


I 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  171 

scratching  in  the  dust  in  search  of  grains  of  com,  but  think- 
ing the  ni'en  were  Indjians  she  fled,  in  wild  fright,  and  had 
to  be  run  down  and  caught.  Poor  woman,  though  overjoy- 
ed when  realizing  deliverance,  she  was  almost  crazed  from 
exposure  and  hunger,  and  so  emaciated  that  her  husband 
could  scarcely  realize  the  change.  Thus  providentially  spared 
worS'e  misfortune,  the  family  W€re  glad  to  find  la  home  in 
a  less  exposed  section,. 


IffURDER  OF  THE  LAUGHLIN    McLENNAN  FAMILY— 
"INDIAN  JOHN,"  McLENNAN. 

In  the  winter  of  1835- '6,  wh^en  most  of  the  settlers  had 
retired  from  this  exposed  frontier,  in  consequence  of  the 
hostility  of  Indians,  these  brave  families  remained  on  th-eir 
little  farms.  In  the  spring  of  '36  their  first  and  saddest 
misfortune  overtook  them.  While  splitting  rails,  a  party  of 
Indians,  probably  Wacos,  surprised  and  killed  Laughlin  and 
his  wife  and  captured  their  three  small  children — Laugh- 
lin's  aged  and  feebled  mother,  unable  to  walk  being  burned 
lalivo  in,  the  house.  Two  of  the  captive  children  soon  died. 
The  other,  John,  a  fine  little  fellow  of  seven  years ,  was 
adopted  and  remained  with  the  Indians  some  years  till  re- 
covered through  treaty  stipulations  in  1846 — Neil  McLen- 
nan attending  the  council  high  up  on  the  Brazos,  and 
bringing  his  nephew  back  to  the  village  of  Nashville.  Now 
a,  grown  young  man,  unable  to  speak  a  word  of  English, 
dressed  in  the  Indian  garb  and  with  all  the  propensities  of 
that  race,  he  was  indeed  ''the  very  picture  of  a  wild  war- 
rior," and  it  was  no  ordinary  task  to  win  "this  youug  sav- 
age" to  civilization.  It  was  very  hard  to  get  him  reconciled 
to  his  relatives  and  their  modes  and  manners,  "but  with  the 
return  of  his  mother  tongue  he  became  more  civilized  and 
contented."  "My  mother"  says  Capt.  W.  T.  Davidson, 
"made  the  first  garment  he  would  wear,  out  of  red  c'.oth,  and 
besides  provided  him  with  a  straw  hat  with  a  red  ribbon 
band  streaming  down  about  a  yard,  of  which  he  was  very 
proud."  During  the  lifetime  of  his  adopted  Indian 
mother,    we    are    told    he    often    visited    her,     being    al- 


172  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

waj's  loaded  with  such  pr^sents  as  he  knew  would 
gratify  her — thus  shiowing  hie  gratitude  for  her  care  and 
attention  to  him  during  his  boyhood.  Eventually  he  became 
entirely  reconciled,  married  happily  and  settled  down  on 
Hog  Creek,  in  Bosque  county,  where  he  resided  till  his 
death  in  1866. 

Thus  admonished  by  this  terrible  tragedy,  of  the  dangers 
to  which  they  were  exposed  on  that  then  extreme  frontier, 
the  McLennans  removed. down  to  the  frontier  village  of 
Nashville,  where  they  remained  till  the  spring  of  1837,  when 
Neil  Sr.,  ventured  back  to  his  farm  and  commenced  a  crop, 
and  when  the  Indians  again  made  an  attack,  the  father  and 
his  son,  John,  (afterwards  sheriff,  first  of  Milam  and  then 
of  McLennan  county)  barely  escaped,  and  a  neigro  man  was 
captured — but  soon  to  effect  his  escape  and  return  to  his 
master.* 


FALL  OF  PARKER'S  FORT-THE  HORRIBLE  MASSACRE. 
FATE  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.    A  THRILLING  STORY. 

Settlers  at  Parker's  fort  participated  in  the  ''runaway 
scrap"  in  the  spring  of  1836,  and  went  as  far  east  as  the 
Trinity  which  they  were  unable  to  cross,  as  the  river  was  so 
swollen  by  heavy  rains.  While  encamped  on  its  western 
bank,  they  were  informed  of  the  victory  of  San  Jacinto,  and 
at  once  started  back  to  the  fort,  which  they  reached  without 
unusal  incident. 


♦  "McLennan's  faithful  old  negro  servant,  Alf  for  that  was  his  name,  in  tellin?  of 
the  attack  and  hie  capture  by  Indians,"  says  Oapt.  W.  T.  Davidson,  "told  me  the  first  inti- 
mation he  had  that  the  Indians  were  anywhere  about,  he  saw  them  jumping  over  the  field 
fence  where  he  was  at  work.  He  broke  for  the  timber,  but  a  bigr  stalwart  fellow  puretied 
him,  running:  up  behind  and  slapped  his  hand  on  his  shoulder,  with  the  exclamation: 
'Whoop!'  They  carried  him  off  a  prisoner  and  kept  him  for  some  time.  Alf  was  a  great 
character  and  was  the  only  negro  fiddler  in  the  town  of  Nashville,  and  always  played  for 
the  young  people  to  dance  about  once  a  week.  They  would  pay  him  in  dressed  deer  skins, 
old  clothes,  shoes,  and  as  much  corn  whisky  as  he  could  drink.  They  danced  nothing  but 
the  reel  or  'break-down'  in  those  days,  and  Alf  would  play:  'Give  the  fiddler  a  dram,  give 

the  fiddler  a  dram,  and  let  him  drink  it  and  be  d ed,' or 'We  will  dance  all  night  till 

broad  daylight  and  go  home  with  the  gals  in  the  morning,'  and  always  accompanied  the 
Buticwith  Hmg.  Those  were  great  days— good  old  timet- and  were  enj<^ed  by  those 
brave  Mid  happy  'folk*.'— a  great  deal  more  than  theCpresent  times  and  (of)  modem 
dancM."- Letter  S,  36, 07. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  173 

Parker's  Fort  was  located  near  the  headwaters  of  the 
Navasota,  one  half  miles  north'W€st  of  the  site  of  the  town 
of  Groesbeck,  in  Limstone  county,  in  the  heart  of  what  was 
then  a  wilderness,  but  now  a  fruited  and  thickly  populated 
region  divided  into  farmsteads  and  dotted  with  villages  and 
towns. 

Fort  Houston,  situated  a  mile  or  two  west  of  th-e  site  of 
Palestine,  on  land  now  included  in  the  John  H.  Reagan 
farm  two  miles  west  of  Palestine,  in  Anderson  county,  was 
the  nearest  white  settlement.  Others  were  distant  sixty 
miles  or  more. 

Parker's  fort  consisted  of  cabins  surrounded  by  a  stock- 
ade. A  large  double  gate  afforded  access  to  the  enclosure. 
The  outer  walls  of  the  log  cabins  formed  part  of  the 
walls  of  the  stockade.  Their  roofs  sloped  inward.  At  one 
or  more  corners  of  the  stockade  were  block  houses.  The 
walls  around  the  entire  quadrangle  were  perforated  with 
loop  holes.  The  fortification  M^as  buUet  proof,  and,  like 
others  of  the  kind,  could  not  be  taken  by  Indians  if  defend- 
ed by  a  few  well-armed  and  determined  men.  It  was  built 
for  the  purpose  of  being  occupied  by  the  families  living  in 
the  vicinity,  when  there  was  danger  of  attack  by  Indians. 
Most  of  the  farms — some  of  them  near-by  and  others  a  mile 
or  so  away — were  provided  with  cabins  where  the  tired  colo- 
nists occasionally  spent  the  night. 

The  patriarch  of  the  settlement  was  Elder  John  Parker, 
•eventy  nine  years  of  age.  His  aged  wife  ,'* Granny"  Parker, 
•was,  perhaps,  a  few  years  younger.  He  was  a  Virginian 
by  birth;  resided  for  a  time  in  Elbert  county,  Ga. ;  chiefly 
reared  his  family  in  Bedford  county,  Tenn. ;  afterwards  lived 
for  several  years  in  Cole  county.  111. ;  and  then  moved,  in 
1833,  to  Texas  where  Parker's  fort  was  erected  in  the  foMow- 
ing  year.  Some  of  the  family  came  to  Texas  prior,  and  .others 
subsequent,  to  that  time. 

The  little  group  consisted  o^  the  following  x>^rsons :  El- 
der John  Parker  and  wife  (Granny  Parker)  ;  James  W. 
Parker  (son  of  Elder  Joihin),  wife,  four  single  children, 
married  daughter,  Mrs.  Rachel  Plummer,  and  her  husband, 


174  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

L.  T.  M.  Plummer,  and  fifteen  months  old  son,  James  Pratt 
Plummer,  and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Sarah  Nixon,  and  her  hus- 
band, L.  D.  Nixon ;  Silas  M.  Parter  (son  of  Elder  John)  and 
ihis  "wife,  and  four  children;  Benjamin  F.  Parker  (an  un- 
married son  of  Elder  John) ;  Mrs.  Nixon,  Sr.,  (mother  of 
Mrs.  James.  W.  Parker) ;  Mrs.  Eli2abeth  Kellogg  (daughter 
of  Mrs.  Nixon,  Sr.)  ;  Mrs.  Duty;  Samuel  M.  Frost  and  his 
3vife  and  children;  Robert  Frost;  G.  E.  Dwight  and  his  wife 
and  children;  David  Faulkenberry  and  his  son,  Evan;  Seth 
Bates  and  his  «on,  Silas  H. ;  Elisha  Anglin  and  his  nineteen 
year  old  soaa,  Abram,  and  old  man  Lunn — in  all  thirty-eight 
persons. 

On  returning  to  Parker's  fort  from  the  Trinity,  the  lit- 
tle hand  busied  itself  with  gathering  together  its  scattered 
stock  and  in  preparing  the  fields  for  putting  in  crops,  all 
unsconscious  of  the  fearful  massacre  that  was  to  extinguish, 
so  soon,  the  bright  hopes  they  entertained  of  the  fu- 
ture, and  the  lives  of  many  of  tlieir  number;  and 
an  unspeakable  meotal  anguisfh  and  physical  sufferirgs  upon 
others  of  the  surveyors. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  May  19,  1836,  James  W.  Parker, 
Nixon  and  Plummer  left  the  fort,  and  repaired  to  a  farmi  a 
mile  from  there,  and  David  Faulkenberry  and  his  son  Evan, 
Silas  H.  Bates  and  Abram  Anglin  went  from  the  fort  to 
their  fields  a  mile  farther  away. 

Seth  Bates,  Elisha  Anglin,  and  old  man  Lunn  either  slept 
at  their  cabins  the  night  before,  or  left  the  fort  prior  to  9 
o'clock  the  morning  of  the  19th. 

At  that  hour  from  five  hundred  to  seven  hundred  In- 
dians (Comanches  and  Kiowas)  appeared  on  the  prairie  two 
or  three  hundred  yards  from  the  fort,  displayed  a  whit© 
flag,  and  sent  forward  one  of  their  number,  wQilo  said  that 
they  had  no  hostile  intentions,  and  merely  wanted  some 
one  to  come  out  from  the  fort  and  direct  them  to  a  spring 
•which  they  understood  was  near-by,  and  to  be  furnished  a 
beef. 

Subsequent  events  justify  the    belief    that  this  Indian 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  175 

acted  as  a  spy,  noticed  that  nearly  all  the  men  "were  absent, 
end  reported  the  practically  defenseless  eondition  of  the  oc- 
cnpants  of  the  fort.  Benjiamin  F.  Parker  went  out  to  the  In- 
dians and,  after  returning,  stated  that  it  was  his  belief 
they  were  hostile  and  intended  to  attack  the  fort.  He  sai^ 
that  he  would  go  to  them  again  and  try  to  dissuade  them. 
His  brother,  Silas  M.  Parker,  urged  him  net  to  go,  but  ha 
"went,  nevertheless,  and  was  immediately  surrounded  and 
killed. 

While  this  tragedy  was  in  progress,  Elder  John  Park- 
er, "Granny"  Parker  and  Mrs.  Kellogg,  fled  from  tihe 
fort  in  ore  party,  and  j\Irs.  James  W.  Parker  and  children 
by  themselves;  Silas  M.  Parker  and  Mrs.  Plummer  ran  out- 
side the  stockade.    Everyone  tried  to  escape. 

As  soon  as  the  Indians  appeared,  Mrs.  Sarah  Nixon  left 
for  the  farm  where  her  father,  husband  and  Plummer  were 
at  work,  to  teLl  them  of  the  imminent  peril  the  occupants 
of  the  fort  were  in. 

The  savages  kept  up  terrific  shouting  and  yelling  w^hile 
they  were  murdering  Benjamin  F.  Parker — the  peculiar 
blood-curdling  Comanche  screiam  (cnee  heard,  never  forgot- 
ten) rising  above  the  less  distinctive  cries  of  the  Kiowas. 
'Most  of  them  rushed  upon  the  fort,  the  gate  of  which  was 
open;  the  remainder  went  in  pursuit  of  the  parties  of  ref- 
ugees that  were  still  in  sight. 

The  main  body  of  Indians  first  encountered  and  killed 
Silas  M.  Parker  just  outside  the  fort,  where  he  fought  to-' 
the  last,  trying  to  protect  Mrs.  Plummer.  This  opposition 
necessitated  the  attention  of  some  of  the  Indians,  who  kiDV 
ed  and  scalped  Silas  M.  Parker,  knocked  unconscious  with  a 
hoe  and  captured  Mrs.  Plummer,  after  fierce  resisftanee  om 
her  part,  and  t>he(n  poured  into  the  fort,  where  they  joined 
their  companion  fiends,  and  helped  to  murder  Samuel  M.  and' 
Bobert  Frost,  who  fought  and  fell  s&  tiue  men  should. 
Mrs.  Nixon,  Sr.,  Mrs.  Duty  and  all  the  other  women  and 
cftirildren,  managed  to  get  out  of  the  fort  before  and  during' 
the  melee. 

Shrieks  of  victiias  rent  the  air.      Hnndrede    of    brazem 


176  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

throated  savages  shouted  and  screamed  "war-whoops,  curses, 
iflnd  taunts.  The  thud  of  blows  delivered  with  war-clubs 
and  tomahawks,  and  the  sharp  reports  of  firearms  resound- 
'ed.  Blood  and  death  were  everywhere.  Murder,  with  bat- 
like wings,  brooded  over  the  scene  infernal,  and  drank  in 
■'the  babel  of  piteous  and  fierce  sounds  that  rose  from  it. 

Elder  John  Parker,  ''Granny"  Parker,  and  Mrs,  Kellogg 
^^'ere  captured  when  they  had  gone  three-fourths  of  a  mile. 
"They  were  brought  back  to  a  spot  near  the  fort,  where  El- 
der John  Parker  was  stripped,  speared  and  killed,  and  "Gran- 
ny" Parker  was  stripped  of  everything  except  her  under- 
clothiDg,  speared,  outraged,  and  left  for  dead.  Th©  la- 
diars  kept  Mrs.  Kellogg  as  a  prisoner. 

When  Mrs.  Sarah  Nixon  reached  the  field  to  tell  of  the 
coming  of  the  Indians,  she  found  her  father,  James  W.  Par- 
ker, and  Plummer.  Her  husband  had  gone  down  to  the 
other  farm.  Plummer  at  once  hastened  to  the  latter  place 
to  convey  information  of  the  danger.  James  W.  Parker 
started  immediately  for  the  fort.  Enroute  he  met  his  wife 
and  children,  and  others. 

Plummer  reached  Nixon  first  and  told  him  that  the  fort 
was  surrounded  by  Indians.  Without  waiting  for  the  oth- 
er men  to  come  up,  Nixon,  though  unarmed,  ran  toward  the 
fort.  In  a  few  moments  he  met  Mrs.  Lucy  Parker  (wife 
of  Silas  M.  Parker)  and  her  four  children,  just  as  they 
were  overtaken  by  Indians.  They  compelled  her  to  lift  be- 
hind two  mounted  wiarriors,  her  nine-year-old  daughter 
Cynthia  Ann,  and  little  boy,  John.  The  foot  Indians  then 
took  her  and  her  two  younger  children  back  to  the  fort,  Nix- 
on following.  She  passed  around,  and  Nixon  through  the 
fort. 

At  the  moment  the  Indians  were  si; out  to  kill  Nixon, 
David  Faulkenberry  appeared  with  his  rifle  and  leveling  it, 
•caused  them  to  fall  back.  Thereupon  Nixon  left  in  search 
of  his  wife  and  overtook  Dwight  and  family,  and  Frost's 
•family,  and  with  them,  met  James  W.     Parker    and   family 


1.     John  Neely  Bryan,  Father  of  Dallas 
3.     Capt.  Randall  Jones 


2.     Capt.  Geo.  B.  Erath 
4.     Capt.  Robt.  M.  Coleman 


1.     Capt.  Shapley  P.  Rcss 

3.     Capt.  Henry  Stout 


2.     Capt,  Henry  S.   Brown 

4.     Capt.  Sam  Hightmith 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  177 

and  his   own  wife,  Mr».  Sarah  Nixon.  This  group  hastened 
to  the  Navasota  bottom,  and  hid  in  a  thicket. 

Faulkenfcerry  ordered  Mrs.  Lucy  Parker  to  follow  him, 
which  she  did,  carrying  her  infant  in  her  arms  and  holding 
her  other  child  by  the  hand.  The  Indians  made  several 
dashes  toward  them,  but  were  brought  up  standing  each 
time  by  Faulkenberry  turning  upon  them  and  presenting  his 
rifle.  One  warrior,  bolder  than  the  rest,  rode  up  so  close 
that  Mrs.  Parker's  faithful  dog  seized  his  horse  by  the 
•nose,  whereupcn  horse  and  rider  somersaulted  into  a  gully. 
At  this  time  Silas  H.  Bates,  Abram  Anglin  and  Evan  Faul- 
kenberry, armed  with  rifles,  and  Plummer,  unarmed,  came 
up,  and  the  pursuing  Indians,  after  makirg  further  hostile 
demcnstrations,  retired.  "While  this  party  of  refugees  were 
passing  through  Silas  M.  Parker's  field,  Plummer,  as  if 
awakened  from  a  dream,  asked  where  his  wife  and  child 
were,  and  taking  the  butcher  knife  of  Abram  Anglin,  went  in 
search  of  them.  Seth  Bates  and  old  man  Lunn  were  met  a 
little  farther  on,  and  the  party  proceeded  to  a  hiding  place 
in  the  creek  bottom. 

At  twilight  Abram  Anglin  and  Evan  Faulkenberry 
started  back  to  the  fort.  On  reaching  Seth  Anglin 's  cabin, 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  their  destination,  they  found 
*  "Granny  "Parker.  She  had  feigned  death  until  the  Indians  left 
and  then  crawled  there,  more  dead  than  alive.  When  An- 
glin beheld  her,  he  thought  he  was  looking  at  a  ghost.  In 
his  account  of  the  incident  he  says,  "It  was  dressed  in 
white,  with  long  white  hair  streamang  down  its  back.  I  ad- 
mit that  I  was  worse  scared  at  this  moment  than  when  the 
Indians  were  yelling,  and  charging  us.  Seeing  me  hesitate, 
my  ghost  now  beckoned  me  to  come  on.  Approaching  the 
object,  it  proved  to  be  old    'Granny'    Parker. 

"I  took  some  bed  clothing  and  carrying  her    some    dis- 
tance from  the  house,  made   her  a  bed,  covered  her  up,  and 
left  her  until  we  should  return   from   the   fort.     On   arriv- 
ing at  the  fort  we  could  not  see  a  single  individual  alive,  or 
hear  a  human  sound.    But  the  dogs  were  barking,  the  cat- 


178  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

tie  lowing,  tiie  horses  neagihmg,  and  the  :h'ogi9  squealing. 

"Mrs.  Parker  had  told  me  where  she  had  left  some  sil- 
ver, $106.50.  This  I  found  under  a  hickory  bush,  by  moon- 
light. Finding  no  one  at  the  fort,  we  returned  to  where  I 
had  hidden  'Granny'  Parker.  On  taking  her  up  behind  me, 
we  made  our  way  back  to  our  hiding  place  in  the  bottom, 
where  we  found  Nixon." 

Next  morning  Silas  H.  Bates,  Abram  Anglin  and  Evan 
Faulkenberry  went  back  to  th'e  fort,  where  they  secured 
fiv€  or  six  horses,  a  few  saddles  and  bridles  and  some  meal, 
baccn  and  honey;  but,  fearing  that  the  Indians  might 
return,  did  not  tarry  to  bring  th^  dead. 

With  the  aid  of  the  horses  and  provisions,  the  party 
with  David  Faulkenberry  made  its  way  to  Fort  Houston. 
They  did  not  then  know  what  had  become  of  James  W.  Par- 
ker and  those  with  him. 

The  people  with  James  W.  Parker,  consisting  of  G. 
E.  Dwight  and  nineteen  women  and  children,  reached,  after 
traveling  six  days,  Tinnin's,  at  the  old  San  Antonio  and 
Nacogdoches  crossing  of  the  Navasota,  emaciated  by  star- 
vation, with  nearly  all  their  clothing  tom  off  of  them  by 
thorns,  and  that  which  remained  reduced  to  shreds,  their 
bodies  and  limbs  lacerated  and  their  feet  swollen  and  bleed- 
ing. Messrs.  Carter  and.  Courting  learn-ed  of  tftieir  approach, 
went  out  to  meet  them  with  five  horses,  end  brought  them 
in. 

The  settlers  at  Tinnin's,  themselves  but  recently  returned 
from  the  "runaway  scrape "  and  poorly  supplied  with  necessa- 
ries, divided  their  little  all  of  food  and  e'othing  with  the  suf- 
ferers, and  cheered  and  comforted  them  as  best  they  could. 

There  were  hearts  of  gold  in  Texas  in  those  days — 
of  the  kind  of  gold  that  is  in  the  heavenly  city,  and  not  in 
the  fated  fane  of  Mammon. 

A  party  of  twelve  men  went  up  from  Fort  Houston  and 
buried  the  dead^'Granny"  Parker  did  not  live  long  after 
reaching  Fort  Houston.  Most  of  the  Parker's  Fort  set- 
tlers later  returned  to  that  location. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  179 

TJpcn  leaving  Parker's  fort  after  the  massacre,  the 
Comanches  and  Kiowas  traveled  together  until  midnight, 
"wh^n  they  halted,  went  into  camp,  tied  their  prisoners  60 
tightly  hand  and  foot  that  blood  welled  np  from  beneath 
the  cruel  cords,  threw  the  prisoners  on  their  faces,  built 
fires,  erected  a  pole,  and  engaged  in  a  scalp  dance 
around  it  that  lasted  until  morning.  The  savages  seemed 
drunk  with  the  horrors  they  had  perpetrated,  and  aband- 
oned themselves  without  restraint  to  the  frenzy  of  the 
dance. 

They  chanted  and  shouted  themselves  hoarse,  leaped 
into  the  air,  contortedr  their  bodies,  and  re-enacted  the  mur- 
ders they  had  committed  until  even  the  limit  of  their  phys- 
ical endurance  was  exceeded. 

The  maddened  demons  tramped  upon  the  prisoners  and 
beat  them  with  bows,  until  tiey  were  covered  with  blood 
and  bruises. 

The  orgie  ended  at  last,  leaving  Mrs.  Kellogg,  Mrs. 
Plummer  and  the  children  more  dead  than  alive. 

When  the  Indians  parted  they  divided  the  prisoners 
among  them.  Mrs.  Plummer  was  separated  from  her  little 
Bon,  James  Pratt  Plummer,  he  being  taken  by  one  band  and 
eht  by  another. 

Mrs.  Kellogg  was  sold  to  the  Keechies  and  by  them  to 
the  Delawares,  who,  about  six  months  after  her  capture,  car- 
ried her  into  Nacogdoches  and  surrendered  her  to  Gen.  Sam 
Houston,  who  paid  them  $150.00,  the  amount  they  had  paid 
the  Keechies,  and  all  they  demanded. 

While  she  was  being  conveyed  from  Nacogdoches  to 
Fort  Houston  by  James  W.  Parker  and  others,  a  Mr.  Smith 
wounded  and  disabled  an  Indian,  whom  she  recognized  as 
the  savage  who  scalped  Elder  John  Parker.  As  soon  as  she 
made  known  the  fact,  Parker,  Smith  and  others  of  the  party 
killed  the  man — riddling  his  carcass  with  bullets,  and  leav- 
ing it  where  it  fell  Sor  wolves  and  buzzards  to  dispose  of. 

Six  mcnthe  after  she  was  captured  Mrs.  Plummer  gave 
birth  to  a  boy  baby.    She  begged  an  Indian  woman  to  tell 


180  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

her  how  to  save  the  child,  but  the  squaw  turned  a  deaf  ear 
to  her  pleadings.  One  day,  wliile  she  was  nursing  the  in- 
fant, several  Indians  came  to  her  ard  ^one  of  .them  tore  the 
child  from  her,  strangled  it  with  his  hands,  tossed  it  in 
the  air  and  let  it  fall  on  the  ground  until  life  seemed  ex- 
tinct, and  then  threw  it  at  her  feet,  while  the  others  held 
her,  despite  franltdc  struggling.  Ihe  bucks  then  left 
her.  In  her  printed  narrative  she  says,  "I  had  been  weep- 
ing incessantly  whilst  they  were  murdering  my  child,  but 
now  my  grief  was  so  great  that  the  fountain  of  my  tears 
was  dried  up.  As  I  gazed  on  the  bruised  cheeks  of  my  dar- 
ling infant,  I  discovered  some  symptoms  of  returning  life.  I 
hoped  that  if  it  could  be  resuscitated,  they  would  allow  me 
to  keep  it.  I  washed  the  blood  from  its  face,  and  after  a 
1im€  it  b^gan  to  breathe  again.  But  a  more  heart-rending 
scene  ensued.  As  soon  as  the  Indians  ascertained  that  the 
child  was  still  alive,  they  tore  it  from  my  arms  and  knocked 
jDe  down.  They  then  tied  a  plaited  rope  around  its  neck 
iind  threw  it  into  a  bunch  of  prickly  pears,  and  then  pulled 
it  backward  and  forward  until  its  tender  flesh  was  liter- 
ally torn  from  its  body.  One  of  the  Indians,  who  waa 
mounted  on  a  horse,  then  tied  the  end  of  the  rope  to  his 
saddle  and  galloped  around  in  a  circle  until  my  little  inno- 
cent was  not  only  dead,  but  torn  to  pieces.  One  of  them 
then  untied  the  rope  and  threw  the  remains  of  the  child 
into  my  lap,  and  I  dug  a  hole  in  the  earth  and  buried 
tiiem." 

The  Indians  killed  the  child  because  they  thought  that 
caring  for  it  interferred  with  the  mother's  work.  After- 
wards she  was  given  to  a  squaw  as  s^frvant.  T'h'e 
squaw,  after  much  cruel  treatment,  attempted  to  beat  her 
with  a  club.  Mrs.  Plummer  wrenched  the  club  from  the 
Indian  woman's  hands  and  knocked  her  down  with  it.  The 
Indian  men,  who  were  at  some  distance,  ran,  yelling,  to  the 
scene.  Mrs.  Plummer  expected  nothing  less  than  to  be  killed 
by  them.  Instead,  they  patted  her  on  the  back,  exclaiming 
**bueno!  bueno!" — good!  good! 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  181 

After  that  she  was  called  the  "fightiEg  squaw,"  and 
■was  Bench  better  treated.  After  a  captivity  of  one  and  a 
half  years,  she  was  ransomed  hy  Mr.  Willianu  Donoho,  a 
Santa  Fe  inerc(hant-*trader — t»he  same  generous,,  tender- 
hearted a'nd  nofble  geotleman  through  wftiose  efforts  the  un- 
fortunate Mrs.  Horn  amd  Mrs.  Harris  were  rescued  from 
savage  leaptivity,  as  previously  related. 

The  Indian  camp  in  which  she  was  found  was  so  far 
north  of  Santa  Fe  that  it  took  seventeen  days  travel  to 
reach  that  place.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bcncho  took  her  with  them 
to  Independence,  Missouri.  There  she  met  her  brother-in- 
law,  L.  D.  Nixon,  who  brought  her  to  Texas,  where  she 
crossed  the  door  sill  of  her  father's  home  February  19,  1838. 
She  wrote,  or  had  written,  an  account  of  her  Indian  captiv- 
ity. Her  death  occurred  February  19,  1839.  The  19th  day 
of  months  seems  to  have  had  an  oceult  significance  for  her. 
She  wr.s  born  on  the  19th,  was  married  on  tbe  19th,  was 
captured  on  the  19th,  was  ransomed  en  the  19th,  reached 
Independence  on  the  19th,  arrii^ed  at  home  on  the  19th  and- 
died  on  the  19th. 

She  died  without  knowing  what  had  become  of  her 
son,  James  Pratt  Plummer.  He  was  ransomed  late  in  1842 
and  taten  to  Fort  Gibson,  and  reached  home  in  February, 
1843,  in  charge  of  his  grandfather,  ard  became  a  highly  es- 
teemed   citizen    of    Anderson  County. 


CYNTHIA    ANN    PARKER-JOHN     PARKER   —   CHIEF 
QUANAH  PARKER. 

Many  efforts  were  made  by  their  relatives  to  trace  and 
recover  Cynthia  Ann  and  John  Parker,  and  Texan  and 
United  States  government  expeditions  kept  a  sharp  look- 
out for  them;  but  without  avail,  until  Cynthia  Ann  was  un- 
expectedly captured  at  the  battle  of  Pease  River,  in  1860. 

There  is  a  fairly  authenticated  story  to  the  following 
effect:  In  1840  (four  years  after  her  capture  at  Parker's 
f<>rt)  Col.  Len  Williams, Stoal  (a  trader)  and  a  Dela- 
ware IccisD  guide,  named  "Jaeh  Henry"  found   her  with 


182  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Pa-ta-u-ka 's  band  of  Conranche  Irdiaos  on  the  Canadian 
River.  Col.  Williams  offered  to  ransom  her,  but  the  Indian 
into  whose  family  she  had  been  adopted  said  that  all  the 
goods  the  Colonel  had  were  not  sufficient  to  get  her,  that 
she  would  not  be  surrendered  for  any  consideration.  Col. 
Williams  requested  the  privilege  of  talking  with  her,  and 
she  was  permitted  to  come  into  his  presence.  She  walked 
quietl;^  to  him  and  seated  herself  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  but 
<^ld  not  be  induced  to  utter  a  word,  or  make  a  gesture 
that  showed  whether  she  did  or  did  not  understand  what 
ihe  said  to  hex.  She  was  then  thirteen  years  old.  Some 
years  later  she  became  the  squaw  of  the  noted  Comanche 
chief,  Peta  Nocona,  and  bore  him  several  children. 

Victor  M.  Rose  says:  "Fifteen  years  after  her  capture 
a  party  of  white  hunters,  including  some  friends  of  her  fam- 
ily, visited  the  Comanche  encampment  on  the  upper  Cana- 
dian, and  recognizing  Cynthia  Ann,  probably  through  the 
medium  of  her  name  alone,  sounded  her  in  a  secret  manner 
as  to  the  desirableness  of  a  return  to  her  people  and  the 
thaunts  of  civilization.  She  shock  her  head  in  a  sorrowful 
negative,  and  pointed  to  her  little  naked  barbarians  sport- 
ing at  her  feet,  and  to  the  great,  lazy  buck  sleepinjg  in  the 
shade  near  at  hand,  the  locks  of  a  score  of  scalps  dangling 
lat  his  belt,  and  whose  first  utterance  upon  arousing  would 
ibe  a  stern  command  to  his  meek,  pale  faced  wife.  Though, 
in  truth,  exposure  to  sun  and  air  had  browned  the  com- 
plexion of  Cynthia  Ann  almost  as  intensely  as  that  of  the 
native  daughters  of  the  plain  and/  forest.  She  said,  'I  am 
happily  wedded.  I  love  my  husband,  who  is  good  and  kind, 
and  my  little  ones,  too,  are  his,  and  I  cannot   forsake  them. '  ' ' 

If,  indeed  the  entire  account  given  by  Rose  is  not  apoch- 
ryphal,  it  is  certain  that  Qynthia  Ann  did  not  employ ,ui  her 
reply,  the  set  of  words  attributed  to  her,  and  that  she  did 
pot  speak  in  her  mother  tongue. 

When  recaptured,  the  veneer  of  savagery  that  covered 
iher  was  so  thick  that  it  took  time  and  unremitting,  loving 
care  to  remove  it. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  183 

Young  Lawrence  Sullivan  Ross,  then  a  dashing  ranger 
Captain ;  in  after  years  to  win  much  renown  as  a  Confederate 
Brigadier-General ;  Governor  of  Texas,  and  later,  President  of 
the  A.  and  M.  college  of  Texas  till  his  untimely  death,  in  com- 
mand of  a  company  of  Texas  rangers,  a  sergeant  and  twenty 
United  States  dragoons,  and  seventy  citizens  from  Palo  Pinto 
county  under  Capt.  Jack  Curington,  eame  upon  an  Indian 
village  at  the  head  waters  of  Pease  River.  Most  of  his  men 
w-ere  some  distanee  in  his  rear,  their  horses  being  much  jad- 
•ed  by  travel  and  want  of  food.  With  him  were  the  dra- 
goons and  twenty  of  his  own  men.  With  these,  he  charged 
immediately.  The  Indians,  although  surprised,  fought  with 
more  than  usual  bravery,  their  women  and  children  and  all 
0^  tJieir  possessions  being  with  them.  They  could  not  hold 
their  ground  against  such  an  attacking  force,  however,  and, 
after  many  had  been  killed,  the  survivors  tried  to  escape 
to  the  mountains,  about  six  miles  distant.  Lieut.  Thomas 
Kellihuir  pursued  one,  and  Capt.  Ross  and  Lieut.  Somerville 
another.  Somerville  was  a  heavy  man,  and  his  horse  fell  be- 
hind. Ross  dashed  on  and  overtook  the  Indian  he  was  af- 
ter. A  fierce  combat  followed,  resulting  in  the  death  of 
the  Indian,  who  proved  to  be  Peta  Nocona,  chief  of  the  band. 

Kellihuir  captured  the  supposed  Indian  he  was  after,  and 
who  proved  to  be  Cynthia  Ann  Parker.  She  had  in  her 
arms  a  girl  child  about  two  and  a  half  years  of  age,  Topa- 
sannah — "Prairie  Flower."  It  was  not  known  at  the  time 
who  the  captured  woman  was.  She  spoke  no  word  that  tend- 
ed to  clear  the  mystery.  Lieut.  Sublett  picked  up  a  Coman- 
che boy.  Capt.  Ross  took  charge  of  him,  named  him  Pease, 
and  reared  him  at  Waco. 

On  returning  to  the  settlements,  Capt.  Ross  sent  for 
Isaac  Parker,  thinking  it  possible  that  the  woman  might  be 
Cynthia  Ann  Parker.  Thrall  says:  "The  venerable  Isaac 
Parker,  still  in  hopes  of  hearing  of  his  long  lost  niece,  went 
to  the  camp.  Her  age  and  general  appearance  suited  the 
object  of  his  search,  but  she  had  lost  every  word  of  her 
native   tongue.    Col.   Parker   was  about  to  give  up  in  de- 


184  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

epair,  ■wh€B  he  turned  to  the  interpreters  and  said  very  dis- 
tinctly that  the  woman  he  was  seeking  was  named  'Cynthia 
Ann.'  The  sound  of  the  name  by  which  her  mother  had 
called  her,  awakened  in  the  bosom  of  the  poor  captive  emo- 
tions that  had  long  lain  dormant.  In  a  letter  to  us  Col. 
Parker  says:  'The  moment  I  mentioned  the  name,  she 
straightened  herself  in  her  seat  and,  patting  herself  on  the 
breast,  said,  'Cynthia  Ann,  Cynthia  Ann.'  A  ray  of  recol- 
leeticn  sprang  up  in  her  mind,  that  had  been  obliterated  for 
twenty-five  years.  Her  very  countenance  changed,  and  a 
pleasant  smile  took  the  place  of  a  sullen  gloom.' 

"Returning  with  her  uncle,  she  soon  regained  her  na- 
tive tongue.  It  was  during  the  war,  and  she  learned  to 
spin  and  weave  and  make  herself  useful  about  the  house." 
Her  uncle  took  her  to  his  home  in  Tarrant  county.  Soon 
thereafter  she  was  carried  to  Austin  and  was  there  conducted 
by  a  party  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  into  the  hall  where 
the  State  Secession  Convention  was  bein'g  held  in  Aus- 
tin, in  1861.  She  appeared  to  be  greatly  distressed.  In- 
quiry revealed  the  fact  that  she  thought  the  assemblage 
was  a  meeting  of  war  chiefs,  convened  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
ciding her  fate,  and  was  apprehensive  that  they  would  con- 
demn her  to  death. 

An  act  of  the  Texas  Legislature,  approved  April  8,  1861, 
granted  Cynthia  Ann  Parker  a  persicn  of  $100  a  year  for 
five  years,  dating  from  January  1,  1861,  and  required  the 
county  court  of  Tarrant  county  to  appoint  a  guardian  for 
ter,  the  guardian  to  give  a  bond,  "conditioned  for  the 
faithful  application  of  the  pension,  and  for  the  support  and 
education  of  her  child."  Another  act  of  the  Legislature,  in 
the  same  year,  donated  to  her  a  league  of  land. 

An  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  January  8,  1862, 
contained  the  following:  "Silas  M.  Parker,  of  Van  Zandt 
county,  is  hereby  constituted  as  agent  of  Cynthia  A  Tin 
Parker,  formerly  of  Tarrant  and  now  of  Van  Zandt  coun- 
ty, and,  on  his  giving  bond  in  the  sum  of  $400  to  the  Chief 
Justice  of  Van  Zandt  county,  for  the  faithful  application  of 


11 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  18S 

said  persicn  to  the  support  of  said  Cynthia  Ann  Parker, 
and  fcr  the  support  and  education  of  her  child,  Topasan- 
Dah,  the  State  Treasurer  shall  pay  .said  peDsicn  to  the  said 
agent,  or  his  order." 

The  last  appropriations  to  pay  the  persion  were  for  the 
years  1864  and  1865,  and  are  contained  in  the  general  ap- 
propriation act  passed  by  the  Tenth  Legislature,  approved 
December  16,  1863. 

Topasannah  (little  Prairie  Flower)  died  in  1864,  and  dur- 
ing the  same  year  the  soul  'of  the  mother  winged  its  way  to 
the  spirit  land.  Cynthia  Ann  was  buried  in  the  Foster  grave- 
yard, Henderson  county,  Texas  where  her  remains  reposed  for 
forty-six  years — till  late  in  December,  1910  through  the  ef- 
forts of  thie  adoring  son,  Chief  Qaanah  Parker,  they  were  ex- 
humed, conveyed  to  Lawton,  Okla.;  and,  after  much  cer- 
emony, re-interred  in  the  Indian  fai^ily  cemetery  at  Post  Oak, 
in  the  Wichita  mountains.  And  thus  briefly  traced,  closes 
the  history  of  this  unfortunate  woman,  far  famed  in  the 
border    annals  of  Texas 

Cynthia  Ann  Parker  had  two  other  children,  besides 
"Prairie  Flower" — both  sons,  and  both  with  the  Coman- 
ches.  One  of  the  boys  died  not  long  after  her  own  demise; 
the  other,  Quanah  by  name,  A^ho  long  survived  and  acquired 
renown  as  the  head  chief  of  all  the  Comanches.  Aged,  and 
beloved  by  both  the  red  and  white  man,  the  famous  chief 
died  at  his  tribal  home,  on  Thursday,  February  23,  1911,  and 
was  buried  as  he  had  so  desired  to  be,  by  the  side  of  his 
mother,  "Preloch," — Cynthia  Ann  Parker. 

The  death  of  Quanah  Parker  marked  the  passing  of  the 
la«t  of  the  great  Indian  chiefs — Sitting  Bull,  Red  Cloud, 
Crazy  Horse,  Chief  Joseph  and  Geronimo  having  preceded 
him  some  years  to  the  "happy  hunting  grounds," 

John  Parker,  brother  of  Cynthia  Ann,  grew     to    man- 
hood among  the  Comanches,  and  participated   in   their   fo- 
rays as  B  Comanche  brave.     During  a  raid  into  Mexico,  ai 
Mexican  girl  was  captured.     Shortly     thereafter     be     was. 
fitricken  with  gmall-pox.      The  tribe  fled  from  him  in  con^ 


186  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

-sternaticn,  and  left  hira  to  die  without  attention.  The  Mex- 
ican girl  remained  with  and  nursed  him  back  to  health. 
Disgusted  with  his  former  comrades,  he  followed  the  girl's 
advice,  and  went  with  her  to  her  people  beycnd  the  Rio 
Grande.  He  served  in  a  Mexican  company  in  the  Confed- 
erate Army  during  the  war  between  the  states,  but  would 
not  leave  the  soil  of  Texas,  rcfusirg  even  to  cross  the  line 
into  Louisiana.  The  last  heard  of  him,  he  was  living  on  a 
yanch  in  Mexico.  He,  too,  has  long  since  gone  to  his  reward. 


DEATH  OF  McSHERRY  AND   STINNETT— KILLING  OF 

HIBBINS  AND  CREATE  AND  THE  CAPTURE  OF 

MRS.  HIBBINS  AND  CHILDREN  —  HEROISM 

OF   THE   LITTLE    SON. 

Of  the  many,  very  many,  pathetic  episodes  already 
sclrcnicled,  ard  yet  to  be  recounted,  the  dual — triple;  yea, 
fcuir-fcld  tragic  misfortun.es  of  Mrs.  iMcSherry — Hibbins — 
Stinnett — Howard,  must  certainly  claim  precedence,  and  in 
fact,  are  without  a  parallel  in  border  annals.  Recording 
the  multiplied  incidents  of  the  story  (extending  over  a  pe- 
riod of  "13",  to  her,  unfortunate  years)  at  this  juncture, 
vard  to  connect  the  thread  of  narrative,  we  must  revert  a 
few  years — closing  with  sad   sequels. 

"In  1828,"  says  John  Henry  Brown,  "there  arrived  on 
ihe  Guadalupe  River,  a  young  couple  from  the  vicinity  of 
Brownsville,  Jackson  county,  Illinois — John  McSherry  and 
Jiis  wife,  Sarah,  whose  maiden  name  was  Creath.  They  set- 
lied  on  the  west  side  of  the  Guadalupe,  in  DeWitt's  colony 
^t  a  place  in  what  is  now  the  lower  edge  of  DeWitt  county, 
near  a  little  creek,  which,  with  a  spring,  was  some 
l-Avo  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  cabin  they  erected — 
-w'ild  and  isolated,  but  one  of  the  loveliest  spots  of  the 
Southwest.  Their  nearest  neighbor  was  Andrew  Lockhart, 
ten  milts  up  the  river,  and  one  of  a  large  family'  of  sterling 
pioneers  on  the  Guadalupe,  bearing  that  name. 

"Mrs.  McSherry  was  a  beautiful  blonde,  an  excellent 
Ttype  of  the  country  girls  of  the   West  in  that    day,     very 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  187 

handsome  in  person,  graceful  in  manner  and  pure  of  heart. 
Mr.  McSherry  was  an  honest,  industrious  man  of  nerve  and 
will.    They  were  happily  devoted  to  each  other. 

"Early  in  1829  their  first  child,  a  son,  was  born,  com- 
plementing the  full  measure  of  their  connubial  blLss — but 
alas!  soon  to  be  blighted  with  a  most  direful  calamity." 

''Later  in  the  same  year,"  continues  Brown,  "about 
ncom  on  a  pleasant  day,  Mr.  McSherry  went  to  the  spring 
for  a  bucket  of  water.  As  he  aros€  from  the  bank,  bucket 
in  hand,  a  party  of  Indians,  with  a  wild  yell,  sprang  from 
the  tushes,  and  in  a  moment  he  was  a  lifeless  corpse.  His 
wife,  hearing  the  yell,  sprang  to  the  door,  saw  him  plainly 
and  realized  the  peril  of  herself  and  infant.  In  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye,  she  barred  the  doer,  seized  the  gun,  and 
resolved  to  defend  herself  and  baby  unto  death.  The  sav- 
ages surveyed  the  situation  and  maneuvered  to  and  fro, 
but  failed  to  attack  the  cabin,  and  soon  disappeared.  Thus 
she  was  left  alone,  ten  miles  from  the  nearest  habitation, 
and  without  a  road  to  that,  or  any  other  place.  But  truly, 
in  the  belief  of  every  honest  person  of  long  frontier  expe- 
rience, the  ways  of  Providence  are  inscrutable.  About  dark, 
John  McCrabb,  a  fearless  and  excellent  man,  well  armed 
and  mounted,  but  wholly  unaware  of  the  sad  condition  of 
matters,  rode  up  to  the  cabin  to  pass  the  night.  Hearing 
the  recital,  his  strong  nerves  became  stronger,  and  his  heart 
pulsated  as  became  a  whole-souled  Irishman.  Very  soon  he 
placed  the  young  mother  and  babe  on  his  horse,  and  by  the 
light  of  the  stars,  started  on  foot,  through  the  wilderness, 
for  the  house  of  settler  Lockhart,  reaching  it  before  daylight, 
where  warm  hearts  bestowed  all  possible  care  and  kindness 
on,  those  so  ruthlessly  stricken  in  the  wilderness,  and  so 
remote  from  all  kindred  ties."  ,  !  ; 

Here  in  this  hospitable  home  the  bereaved  lady  re- 
mained, till  she  met,  was  wooed,  and  married  John 
Hibbins,  a  worthy  man,  who  settled  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Guadalupe,  in  .'the  vicinity  of  where  the  town,  of 
Concrete,  in  DeWitt  county,  now  stands.  , ,    ;  J 


188  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Again  happy  and  prosperous,  in  the  summer  of  1835, 
with  h^er  little  boy,  John  Me  Sherry,  and  an  infant  by  Mr. 
Hibbins,  sh^  visited  her  kindred  in  Illinois — returning  in 
company  with  a  single  brother,  George  Creath,  in  boat,  via 
New  Orleans,  and  thence  to  Columbia,  on  the  Brazos, 
"where,  early  in  February,  1836,  Mr.  Hibbins  met  them 
with  an  ox-c«rt,  on  which  they  b€gf.n  the  journey  home." 
From  Beason's  Crossing  on  the  Color>ado,  they  proceeded 
to  the  Navidad,  and  thence  along  the  old  La  Bahia  road, 
reaching  their  last  camp  on  Rock  Cieek,  six  miles  above  the 
subsequent  village  of  Sweet  Home,  in  Lavaca  county,  and 
within  about  fifteen  miles  of  their  home,  where  they  were 
suddenly  attacked  by  thirteen  Comanche  Indian  warriors, 
who  immediately  killed  Hibhins  and  Creath,  made  captives 
of  Mrs.  Hibbins  and  her  two  children,  took  possession  of  the 
effects,  and  leisurely  moved  off,  passing  up  through  the 
Peach  Creek  timbered  region,  between  the  Guada-'upe  and 
the  Colorado.  At  their  second  camp,  Mrs.  Hibbins'  suf- 
fering little  babe,  crying  from  fain,  was  seized  by  one  of 
the  fierds  and  its  brains  dashed  cut  against  a  tree,  before 
the  eyes  of  its  shrieking,  frantic,  but  helpless  mother. 

For  an  account  of  this  lady's  further  sufferings,  prov- 
idential escape,  and  rescue  of  her  little  son,  on  this  occa- 
sion, we  quote  from  the  Reminiscences  of  the  octogenarian 
pioneer,  Noah  Smithwick,  who  wrote  from  personal  knowl- 
edge— prefacing  with  the  providential,  or  at  least  fortunate 
fact  that,  on  account  of  the  numerous  and  alarming  depre- 
dations of  the  Indians  all  along  that  frontier,  Capt.  John  J. 
Tomlinson  had  been  commissioned  with  a  small  company 
of  rangers — the  first  ever  raised  under  the  revolutionary 
government  of  Texas — for  protection,  and  was  at  that  time 
in  close  proximity  to  this  band  of  marauders.  S&ys  Smith- 
wick, one  of  the  company:  ''"We  were  assigned  to  duty  on 
the  headwaters  of  Brushy  Creek,  some  thirty  miles  north- 
"west  of  the  site  of  the  present  capital,  that  city  not  hav- 
ing been  even  projected  then.  The  appointed  rendeevons 
\eafi  Hornsby'e  station,  ten  miles  below  Austin,  on  the  Col- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  189 

orad»,  from  which  place  we  were  to  proceed  at  once  to 
our  pest,  taking  such  materials  as  were  necessary  to  aid 
los  in  the  construction  of  a  Meek  house.  *  *  *  Just  as  we 
were  preparing  for  our  supper,  a  young  white  woman,  an  en- 
tire stranger,  her  clothing  hanging  in  shreds  about  her 
torn  and  Weeding  body,  dragged  herself  into  camp  and 
sank  exhausted  on  the  ground.  The  feeling  of  re^t  and  re- 
lief en  finding  herself  among  friends  able  and  willing  to 
help  her,  so  overcame  her  overtaxed  strength  that  it  was 
some  little  time  before  she  could  give  a  coherent  explana- 
tion of  her  situation,  name,. and  sad  misfortunes.  *  *  * 

"The  scene  of  the  attack  being  a  lonely  spot  on  a  lone- 
ly road,  the  cunning  redskins  knew  there  was  little  risk  of 
the  outrage  being  discovered  till  they  were  beyond  the  reach 
of  jur&uit;  so  w^hen  a  cold  norther  met  them  at  the  cross- 
ing of  the  Colorado,  about  where  the  city  of  Austin  now  stands, 
they  sought  the  shelter  of  a  cedar  brake  on  Walnut  Creek, 
and  encamped.  Confident  that  Mrs.  Hibbins  could  not  es- 
cape with  her  child,  and  trusting  to  her  mother's  love  to 
prevent  her  leaving  it,  the  Indians  allowed  her  to  lie  un- 
bound, not  even  putting  out  guards.  It  was  bitterly  cold, 
and  wrapping'  themselves  in  their  buffalo  robes,  they  were 
soon  sound  asleep.  But  there  was  no  sleep  for  Mrs.  Hib- 
bins— heroic  woman,  she  resolved  to  escape  and  to  rescue 
her  child.  There  was  no  time  to  lose,  as  another  day's 
travel  would  take  her  far  beyond  the  settlements  and  the 
possibility  of  successful  escape  and  procuring  help  before 
the  savages  reached  their  stronghold.  Assured  by  their 
breathing  that  her  captors  were  asleep,  and  summoning  all 
her  courage,  she  careful'y  tucked  the  robe  about  her  sleep- 
ing boy — her  first-born,  and  now  her  only  child — and  stole 
away,  leaving  him  to  the  mercy  of  the  brutal  barbarians. 

"She  felt  sure  the  river  they  had  crossed  was  the  Col- 
orado, ard  knew  there  were  settlements  below;  how  far 
down  she  had  no  idea,  but  that  seeming  to  offer  the  only 
means  of  escape,  she  made  straight  fcr  the  river,  hiding 
her  tracks  in  the  icy  waters,  and  hurried  away  as  fast  aa 


190  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

tht  darkD€SS  would  permit.  Onee  she  thought  she  heard 
her  child  call,  'Mamma!  Mamma!'  and  her  heart  stood;  still 
■with  fear  th^at  the  Indians  would  be  awakened  and  miss 
her.  Sh€  momentarily  expected  to  h'car  a  yell  of  alarm, 
and  not  daring  to  leave  the  sh-elter  of  the  bottom  timber, 
sh€  meandered  the  winding  stream,  sometimes  wading  in 
the  shallow  water  along  the  edge,  and  again  working  her 
way  through  the  brush  and  briars,  tearing  her  clothing  and 
lacerating  her  flesh,  never  pausing  in  her  painful  journey 
till  late  in  the  afternoon,  when  she  came  upon  the  first  sign 
of  civilization — some  gentle  milk  cows  feeding  along  the  river 
bottom,  and  felt  that  she  must  be  near  a  white  settlement, 
but  dared  not  call  for  assistance,  leet  the  Indians  be  in 
pursuit.  Surmising  the  cows  would  soon  be  going  home,  she 
secreted  herself  nearby  and  waited  till  they  had  finished 
their  browsing,  and  followed  them  in  to  the  station — hav- 
ing spent  nearly  twenty-four  hours  in  traveling  a  distance 
of  only  ten  miles. 

"Fortunate  beyond  hope,  in  finding  the  rangers  there, 
she  implored  us  to  save  her  child,  describing  the  mule  he 
trode,  the  band  of  Indians  and  the  direction  they  were  trav- 
eling. Hastily  dispatching  our  supper,  we  were  soon  in  the 
saddle,  and,  with  a  trusty  guide,  Reuben  Homsby,  trav- 
eled on  till  we  judged  we  must  be  near  the  trail,  and  fear- 
ful of  crossing  it  in  the  darkness,  we  halted  and  waited 
for  daylight.  As  soon  as  it  wee  light  enough,  our  scouts 
•were  out,  and  soon  found  the  trail,  fresh  and  well  defined. 
Cautiously  following,  we  came  upon  the  Indians  about  10 
o'clock  in  the  moo-ning,  just  as  they  were  preparing  to 
break  camp.  Taken  completely  by  surprise,  tihey  broke  far 
the  shelter  of  a  cedar  brake,  leaving  everything  except 
•feueh  weapons  as  they  hasiti'ly  snatched  £ts  tCey  started." 

In  the  quick  charge  and  pursuit,  four  warriors  were 
killed  before  they  could  reach  the  almost  impenetrable  ce- 
dar brakes.  Two  of  the  rangers,  Elijah  Ingram  and  Hugh 
M.  Childress,  were  wounded,  while  a  number  of  thrilling, 
and  some  narrow,  escapes  occurred  —  Captain    Tomlinson 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  191- 

iavirg  his  hors*  fi»hiot  and  killed,  himself  narrowly   escap- 
ing dearth. 

"But,"  cotntinues  SmdJthwiek,  "w^  got  all  th^ir  horses 
bx-d  oliher  plunder,  and,  to  croAvn  our  success,  we  achieved 
tlie  main,  object  lof  the  expedition,  which  was  the  rescue  of 
the  littk  hoy,  though  the  heedlessness  of  cue  of  ouir  men 
came  near  robbing  us  of  our  prize  in  a  shocking  manuer. 
The  Indians,  careful  of  the  preservation  '  of  their  little  cap- 
tive— they  intended  to  make  a  good  Comanche  of  him — had 
wrapped  him  up  warmly  in  a  buffalo  robe  and  tied  him  on 
his  mule,  preparatory  to  resuming  their  journey.  When  we- 
rushed  upon  them,  fhey  had  no  time  to  remove  him,  and 
the  mule,  being  startled  by  our  charge,  started  to  run^ 
when  one  of  our  men,  not  seeing  that  the  rider  was  a  chdld^ 
gave  chase,  and,  putting  his  gun  against  the  back  of  the 
boy,  pulled  the  trigger.  Fortunately  the  gun  missed  fire. 
He  .tried  again  with  like  result.  The  third  time  his  iin- 
ger  w«s  on  the  trigger,  when  one  of  the  other  boys,  perceiv- 
ing with  horror  the  tragedy  about  to  be  enacted,  knocked 
the  gun  up.  It  fired  clear,  sending  a  ball  whistling  over 
the  head  cf  the  rescued  child.  Providence  seemed  to  have- 
interposed  to  save  him." 

Gathering  up  the  spoils,  and  with  their  precious  charge^ 
the  rangers  now  returned  ini  triumph  to  their  camp.  Of 
the  affeetinig  scene,  the  joyous  meeting  here,  we  let  Captain 
Toanlinscn  tell:  "Lieut.  Rogersi*  presented  the  child  to  its 
mother,  and  the  scene  which  here  ensued  beggars  descrip- 
tion. A  mother  meeting  with  her  child  released  from  In- 
dian captivity,  rescued,  as  it  w^ere,  from  the  very  jaws  of 
death!  Not  an  eye  was  dry.  She  called  us  brothers,  and", 
evciry  other  endearing  name,  and  would  have  fallen  on  her 
kne^s  to  worship  us.  She  hugged  the  child^ — her  only  re- 
maining treasure — to  her  bosom  as  if  fearful  that  she* 
would  again  lose  him.     And — but  'tis  useless  to  «iy  more." 

Near  the  same  time — perhaps  by  the  same  tribe,  if  not: 


If  Lieut.  Joseph  Roerere  was  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Gen.  Edward  Burleson,  and  was  kiUedi 
In  e  Burpriee  attack  by  Indians  near  Hornsby's  on  the  Colorado  the  foUowlngr  year. 


:i92  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

same  patrty,  of  Indians — and  only  about  ten  miles  distant 
from  the  spot  where  Hibbins  and  Creath  were  killed,  and 
Mrs.  Hibbins  and  children  were  captured,  occurred  the  mur- 
»^er  of  the  Douglas  and  Daugherty  families,  already  related. 

But  otlier  tribulations  were  yet  in  store  for  this  seeming- 
'ly  fated  woman;  who,  however,  survived  forty  or  more 
years  afterward — ^passing  through  other  horrors — finally  to 
meet  a  peaceful  death,  mourned  by  her  fourth  husband, 
-Phillip  Howard,  in  Bosque  county.  Gleaning  the  further 
-facts  of  her  extraordinary  career  we  quote  from  Brown's  de- 
itaiied  narrative,  who,  as  neighbor  to  Mr.  Howard  in  1846, 
.received  the  main  facts  from  her  own  lips: — "Thus  the 
mother  and  child,  bereft  of  husband  and  father,  and  left 
without  a  relative  nearer  than  Southern  Illinois,  found  them- 
.-selves  in  the  families  of  Messrs.  Ilarrell  and  Hornsby,  the 
outside  settlers  on  the  then  feeble  frontier  of  the  Colorado — 
large  hearted  and  sympathizing  avant-couriers  in  the  ad- 
■vancing  civilization  of  Texas.  The  coincident  fall  of  the 
-Alamo  came  to  them  as  a  summons  to  pack  up  their  effects 
;and!  hasten  eeistward,  as  their  fellow  citizens  below  were  al- 
ready doing. 

"The  mother  and  child  accompanied  these  two  families  in 
flight  from  the  advancing  Mexicans,  till  they  halted  €ast  of 
the  Trinity,  where,  in  a  few  weeks,  couriers  bore  the  glorious 
news  of  victory  and  redemption  from  the  field  of  San  Jacin- 
to. Soon  they  resumed  their  weary  march,  but  this  time  for 
4;heir  homes.  In  Washington  county  Mrs.  Hibbins  halted!, 
.under  the  friendly  roof  of  a  sympathizing  pioneer.  There 
she  also  met  a  former  neighbor,  in  the  person  of  Mr.  Clai- 
."borne  Stinnett,  an  intelligent  and  estimable  man,  who,  with 
•^Captain  Henry  S.  Brown  (father  of  the  writer  of  this)  rep- 
resented De Witt's  Colony  in  the  first  deliberative  body  ever 
^assembled  at  San  Felipe,  October  1,  1832. 

After  a  widowhood  of  twelve  months,  Mrs.  Hibbins  mar- 
ified  Mr.  Stinnett  and  they  at  once  (in  the  spring  of  1837)  re- 
Jturned  to  their  former  home  on  the  Guadiilupe.  In  the  organ- 
.azation  of  'Gonzales  county,  a  little  later,  Mr.    Stinnett    was 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  193 

elected  sheriff.  Late  in  the  fall  with  a  pack-horse,  he  went 
to  Linnville  one  day,  to  buy  needed  supplies.  Loading  ^thia 
extra  horse  with  sugar,  coffee,  etc.,  and  with  $700.00 
in  cash,  he  started  home.  But.  instead  of  following 
the  road  by  Victoria,  he  traveled  a  more  direct  route  through 
the  prairie.  When  about  night,  near  the  Arenosa  creek,  some 
tAventv  miles  northeast  of  Victoria,  he  discovered  a  smoke  in 
a  grove  of  timber,  and  supposing  it  to  be  a  camp  of 
hunters,  went  to  it.  Instead,  it  was  the  camp  of  two 
"runaway"  negro  men,  seeking  their  way  to  Mexico. 
They  murdered  Mr.  Stinnett,  took  his  horses,  provis- 
ions and  money,  and,  undiscovered,  reached  Mexico.  The 
fate  of  the  murdered  man  remained  a  mystery.  No 
trace  of  him  was  found  for  five  years  until,  in  the 
fall  of  1842,  one  of  the  neigroes  revealed  all  the  facts  to 
an  American  prisoner  in  Mexico  (the  late  Col.  Andrew  Neill) 
and  so  described  the  locality  that  the  remains  of  Mr.  Stinnett 
were  found  and  interred. 

Thus  this  estimable  lady  lost  her  third  husband — two  by 
red  savages  and  one  by  black  fiends — and  was  again  alone 
without  ties  of  kinship,  except  her  child,  in  all  the  land.  Yet 
she  was  still  young,  attractive  in  person  and  pure  of  heart,  so 
that,  two  years  later,  she  was  wooed  and  won  by  Phillip 
Howard.  Unwisely,  in  June,  1840,  soon  after  their  marriage, 
they  abandoned  their  home  on  the  Gaudalupe  and  removed 
to  the  ancient  Mission  of  San  Juan,  eight  miles  below  San 
Antonio.  It  was  a  trip  of  100  miles  through  a  wilderness  often 
traversed  by  hostile  savages.  Hence  they  were  escorted  by 
seven  young  men  of  the  vicinity,  consisting  of  Byrd  Lock- 
part,  Jr.,  (of  that  well  known  pioneer  family)  young  Mc- 
Gary,  two  brothers  named  Powers  (one  of  whom  was  a  boy  of 
thirteen,  and  both  the  sous  of  a  widow)  and  three  others  whose 
names  are  forgotten.  On  arriving  at  the  mission  in  the  fore- 
noon, their  horses  were  "hobbled"  out  near  by  and  little  John 
McSherry,  (the  child  of  Mrs.  Howard,  recovered  from  the  In- 
dians in  1836,  and  at  this  time  in  his  eleventh  year)  was  left 
on  a  pony  to  watch  them ;  but  within  half  an  hour  a  body  of 


194  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Indians  suddenly  charged  upon  them,  captured  some  of  the 
horses  and  little  John  barely  escaped  by  dashing  into  the 
camp,  a  vivid  reminder  to  the  mother  that  her  cup  of  afflic- 
tion was  not  yet  full.  In  a  day  or  two  the  seven  young  men 
started  on  their  return  home.  About  noon  next  day,  a  heavy 
shower  fell,  wetting  their  fire-arms,  but  was  soon  followed  by 
eunshine,  when  they  all  fired  off  their  guns  to  clean  and 
dry  them.  Most  imprudently  they  all  did  so  at  the  same 
time,  leaving  no  loaded  piece.  This  volley  attracted  the 
keen  ear  of  seventy  hostile  Comanches  who  otherwise  might 
not  have  discovered  them.  In  a  moment  or  two  they  ap- 
peared and  cried  out  that  they  were  friendly  Tonkawas.  The 
ruse  succeeded  and  they  were  allowed  to  approach  and  encir- 
cle the  now  helpless  young  men.  Six  of  them  were  instantly 
slain,  scalped  and  their  horses  and  effects,  with  the  boy  Pow- 
ers, carried  off.  During  the  second  night  afterwards,  in 
passing  through  a  cedar  brake  at  the  foot  of  the  Cibolo 
mountains,  he  slid  quietly  off  his  horse  and  escaped.  In 
three  or  four  days  he  reached  the  upper  settlements  on  the 
Guadalupe,  and  gave  the  first  information  of  these  harrow- 
ing facts. 

Thus  again  admonished,  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Howard  removed 
down  on  the  San  Antonio  River,  below  the  old  Mexican  ranch. 
of  Don  Carlos  de  la  Garza,  in  the  lower  edge  of  Goliad  coun- 
ty, confident  that  no  hostile  Indians  would  ever  visit  that 
secluded  and  far  down  locality.  But  they  were  mistaken. 
Early  in  the  spring  of  1842  marauding  savages  made  a  raid 
in  that  vicinity,  stole  a  number  of  horses,  killed  stock,  mur- 
dered settler  Gilleland  and  wife  in  a  most  brutal  manner  and 
carried  off  their  little  son  and  daughter,  but  a  party  of  vol- 
unteers, among  whom  were  the  late  Maj.  Alfred  S.  Thur- 
mond of  Aransas,  and  the  late  Col.  Andrew  Neill  of  Austin, 
over-hauled  and  defeated  the  Indians  and  recaptured  the  chil- 
dren, the  boy  Wm.  M.  Gilleland  long  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Austin  and  the  little  girl,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Fisher,  still  surviving, 
and  a  prominent  member  and  leader  of  the  Daughters  of  the 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  195 

Republic — a  story  full  of  pathos  and  tragedy,  to  be  recount- 
ea  hereinafter. 

Following  this  sixth  admonition,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard  at 
once  removed  to  the  present  vicinity  of  Hallettsville,  in  La- 
vaca county,  and  thenceforward  her  life  encountered  no 
repetition  of  the  horrors  which  had  so  terribly  followed  her 
footsteps  through  the  previous  thirteen  years.  Peace  and  a 
fair  share  of  prosperity  succeeded.  In  1848  Mr.  Howard  was 
made  County  Judge,  and  some  years  later  they  located  in 
Bosque  county,  where  she  died  and  where  he  is  believed  to  be 
now  living,  probably  a  little  past  four-score  years. 


Other  incidents  without  exact  dates,  but  all  occurring 
during  thie  year,  in  dif f erent  sectionis  of  the  country — most- 
ly within  the  limits  of  Austin's  colonies  will  be  briefly  no- 
ticed. Mainly,  these  are  small  affairs,  in  view  of  greateo* 
ones,  but  deserving  of  notice — illustrating  at  least,  in  an 
eminent  degree,  too,  the  tremendous  hazards  taken,  and 
trials  suffered,  by  the  early  picneers  of  Texas  in  their 
strugg'les  to  secure  and  retain  homes  for  themselves  and 
their  children,  in  this  fair,  but  blood-bought  land. 


THE  HARVEY  MASSACRE. 

Among  other  brave  and;  worthy  pioneers,  were  the  Har- 
vey family,  emigrating  from  Alabama,  and  settling  near 
"Wheelock,  in  what  is  now  Robertson  county,  Texas,  in 
1835.  In  November  of  the  following  year,  while  the  happy 
family  were  enjoying  the  frugal  evening  meal — little  think- 
ing of  near  danger — a  party  of  Indians,  cautiously  ap- 
proaching, attacked  the  house.  Mr.  Harvey  attempted  to  se- 
cure his  gun,  in  a  rack  over  the  door,  but  wasistruck  in  the 
neck  by  a  bullet  and  instantly  killed.  His  wife  concealed 
hetrself  under  one  of  the  beds  in  the  room,  but  was  discov- 
ered, dragged  out  and  after  a  desperate  resistance,  killed 
and  I  horribly  mutilated — the  savage  fiends  cutting  her 
heart  out  and  placing  it  on  her  breast.  The  son,  a  lad  of 
about  ten  years,  was  also  killedi — "with      many      wounds" 


196    :  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

— his  coait  containing  more  than  twenty  holes.  Securing 
the  scalps  of  their  victims  the  savages  now  departed,  car- 
rying away  as  captives  the  little  nine  year  old  daughter, 
whose  arm  was  broken  during  the  massa'cre,  and  a  negro 
servant  girl. 

Finally,  aftcT  more  than  a  year's  search,  and  the  ex- 
penditure of  considerable  money,  the  daughter  was  found 
and  ransomed  by  nn  uncle,  James  Tolbert,  who  carried  her 
to    his  'home    in   Alabama — removing  thence  to  Texas. 

"They  settled, -'says  the  Rev.  Morrell,  "near  where  her 
parents  and  brother  were  killed.  She  has  since  married,  and 
when  recently  (1873)  heard  from,  was  living.  I  have  often 
been  at  hov  (house,  and  used!  the  family  Bible  at  worship, 
owned  by  her  father;  and  which  yet  has  upon  its  pages 
the  blood  of  her  parents,  spilled  by  the  hands  'of  the  In- 
dians on  that  fearful  night." — "Flowers  and  Fruits,  or  Thir- 
ty-Six Years  in  Texas,"  pp.  68,  69. 


CAPTURE  OF  MRS.  YEARGIN  AND  CHILDREN. 

In  the  night,  a  few  weeks  before  the  battle  of  San  Ja- 
<?into,  a  party  of  Comanches  attacked  the  Yeargin  home, 
on  Cummings  Creek,  in  Fayette  county.  This  family  was  one 
■of  the  few  that  had  not  joined  their  neighbors  in  the 
"runaway  scrape."  Mrs.  Yeargin  and  her  two  little  sons 
were  captured) — the  aged  husband  and  father  escaped  after 
pursuit,  running  afoot,  it  is  said,  ten  miles,  from  the  effects 
of  which  he  soon  died. 

After  a  captivity  of  some  three  months,  the  mother  was 
reclaimed  by  relatives,  at  Coffee's  trading  house  on  Red 
River — 'the  ransom  paid  being  $300.  But  the  Indians  stead- 
fastly refused  to  sell  the  two  little  boys,  and  they  were  nev- 
er after  heard  of.  Eventually  recovering  from  the  effects 
of  exposure  and  ill  treatment  at  the  ihands  of  her  cruel 
captors,  but  ever  mourning  the  loss  of  her  loved  ones,  thia 
estimable  lady  survived  nuany  years,  dying  at  her  old  'home- 
stead a  few  years  since. 


BORDER  WAJRS  OF  TEXAS.  197 

FATE  OF  THE  SEEDS. 

Joseph  and  Braman  Reed,  brothers,  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, emigrating  to  Texas  in  1829,  and  first  locating  in 
th€  Bastrop  community,  removing  after  a  short  time  to 
what  is  now  Burleson  icounty,  settling  on  Davidson's  Greek, 
where  they  followed  the  business  of  stock  raising.  One 
day  in  the  spring  of  this  year,  Joseph  Reed  rode  out  on 
the  range,  looking  after  his  cattle,  and  when  about  half  a 
mile  from  home,  was  suddenly  attacked  by  a  party  of  forty 
or  fifty  Indians.  Amid  a  perfect  shower  of  arrows,  Reed 
put  spurs  to  his  hctrse  and  fled  for  his  home,  pursued  by 
the  yelling  savages.  Mortally  wounded,  the  poor  man  fell 
fromi  his  horse  just  as  he  reac*hed  his  yard  gate.  His  hero- 
i-c  wife,  determdning  he  should  not  be  scalped  and  mutilat- 
ed, now  rushed  out  and,  under  t"he  excitement  of  the  oc- 
casion, atctually  lifted  her  dead  husband  to  her  arms  and 
dragged  him'  into  the  cabin,  which  she  succeeded  in  reach- 
ing unharmed,  although  the  target  of  many  arrows. 

Fortunately,  the  Indians  did  not  attack  the  house,  but 
left,  campdng,  however  in  the  vicinity.  The  brother  of  the 
dead  man,  arriving  on  the  scene,  spread  the  alarm,  and 
soon  collected  a  small  party  of  settlers,  who  attacked  the 
Indians  in  their  camp.  In  the  hard  fight,  Braman  Reed, 
too,  was  killed,  and  several  others  wounded;  and  for  a  time 
the  situaticn  of  the  w^hites  was  desperate,  but  finally  the 
chief  fell,  wthen  the  Indians  fled,  leaving  their  dead  on  the 
field.  Though  seldom  following  the  harrowing  practice  of 
the  savages,  so  exasperated  were  the  whites  on  this  occa- 
sion, we  are  told,  they  scalped  the  dead  chief. 

In  Travis  county,  in  May  of  this  year,  depredating  In- 
dians plundered  the  house  of  Nathaniel  Moore,  who,  with  his 
family  was  absent,  and'  on  the  following  morning  at  Thom- 
as Moore's,  killed  Conrad  Rohrer,  from  ambush,  as  he  was 
saddling  his  horse  to  rid-e  out  aiter  his  team.  Showing* 
themselves  now,  to  the  numb-er  of  tien,  they  threatened)  to 
attack  Moore 'e  houee,  but  desisted  on  th-e  appearanice  of  seT- 


198  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

eral  men,  who  happened  to  be     stcppirg     over     naght     at 
Moore's. 


KILLING  OF  EDWARDS. 

About  the  same  timie,  and  in  the  same  section,  John  Ed- 
"wardfi,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Texas,  was  killed  by  In- 
dians. In  eompany  with  Mr.  Bartholomew  Manlove,  he  was 
traveling  from  the  town  of  Bastrop  to  Washington.  Ap- 
proaching under  the  guise  of  friendship,  the  Indians  shook 
hands  with  Edwards,  and  then  fell  upon  him,  spearing  him 
to  death.  Manlove  had  fled  at  the  first  sight  of  the  enemy 
iand  after  a  hard  race  of  several  miles,  effected  his  escape.* 

On  one  occasion,  three  men — John  Marlin,  Jarrett  and 
Lanham  Menifee,  repaired  to  the  vicinity  of  a  beetree  they 
had 'discovered.  Walking  single  file  along  a  narrow,  wood- 
ed trail,  they  suddenly  discovered  an  Indian  aiming  at 
them,  but  his  gun  missed 'fire,  when  Marlin  and  Lanham 
Menifee  both  ^ired,  "each  killing  the  same  Indian."  Re- 
loading their  guns,  the  settlers  proceeded  but  a  few  paces 
further,  when  they  were  fired  upon  by  other  Indians  in  em- 
bush.  The  fire  was  quickly  returned  with  fatal  effect — 
killing  two  more  Indians  and  eausdng  the  others  to  retreat 
to  a  dense  thicket.  Joined  at  this  moment  by  another  set- 
tler, who  chanced'  to  be  riding  in  that  direction,  the  two  re- 
maining Indians  were  attacked,  one  being  killed  and  the 
other  escaping. 


TROUBLES  IN  THE  HORNSBY  SETTLEMENT. 

Hornsby's  on  the  Colorado,  some  ten  miles  below  the 
present  city  of  Austin,  was  one  of  the  earliest,  and  outside, 
settlements  in  Austin's  upper  colony,  and  at  this  date  con- 
sisted of  the  Hornsbys,  Harrells  and  a  few  other  brave 
families. 

In  the  spring  of  1836,  these  families,   escorted  by  Wil- 

»WilbarR«r,  p.  231. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  199 

liams,  Hoggett  and  Cain,  three  young  men  detailed  by  Cap- 
tain Tomlinson,  then  in  commaDd  af  a  small  ranger  force 
in  that  vicinity,  fled  like  others,  before  the  Mexican,  army 
of  invasion,  toward  the  Sabine.  On  arriving  at  the  old 
town  of  Nashville,  they  heard  the  glorious  news  of  Santa 
Anna's  defeat  at  San  Jajcinto,  and  at  once  returned  to  their 
homes,  and  to  the  tilling  of  their  fields.  "Thiey  had  only 
been  home  a  few  days  (says  Wilbarger)  when  about  ten 
o'clock  one  bright  morning  in  the  early  part  of  May, 
while  Williams  and  Hoggett  were  in  one  part  of  the  field, 
hoeing  and  thinning  corn,  and  the  Hornsby  boys  and  Cain 
were  working  in  another  portion,  about  one  'hundred  In- 
dians rode  up  to  the  fence  near  where  Williams  and  Hog- 
gett w-ere  at  work,  threw  down  the  fence  and  marched  in, 
liearing  a  white  flag  hoisted  on  a  lance — the  wily  redskins 
thus  throwing  the  young  men  off  their  guard.  As  they 
rode  up,  forming  a  circle,  they  s^hook  hands  with  the  two 
young  men,  and  almost  at  the  same  moment  commenced 
their  bloody  work,  spearing  one  of  them  to  death,  and 
shooting  the  other  dea-d  as  he  attempted  to  flee." 

At  this  juncture  the  Hornsby  boys,  Billy,  aged  19 ;  Mal- 
colm, 17 ;  Reuben,  Jr.,  about  twelve  !years  of  age,  and  the 
ycung  man  Cain,  witnessing  the  attack  upon,  and  fate  of 
their  two  companions  in  the  adjoining  field,  fled  for  the 
river  bottom,  crossed  and  went  up  the  stream  some  dis- 
tance, recrossing  about  the  present  Burdett  ford,  and  then 
traveled'  down  through  the  thicket  brush  of  the  bottom  to 
within  about  a  mile  of  their  home,  where  they  concealed 
themselves  until  after  dark,  when  they  cautiously  ventured 
in — expecting  perhaps,  to  find  their  parents  and  oth- 
ers slaughtered,  and  the  house  plundered  or  burned. 
But  the  murderous  fiends,  ** after  riding  around  and  firing 
off  a  few  guns,  had  departed,  carrying  with  them  all  the 
stock  they  could  gather  in  the  neighborhood,"  amount- 
ing to  some  seventy-five  or  one  hundred  head  of  cattle, 
some  of  which  got  loose  from  the  Indians  and  came  back 
(home  about  three  weeks  afterward.    ''The  joyful  meeting," 


200  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

continues  "Wilbarger,  in  telling  of  the  return  of  the  five 
boys,  "can  better  be  imagined  than  described,  for  up  to 
this  time  neither  party  knew  what  had  been  the  fate  of 
the  other." 

In  this  same  vicinity,  in  the  fall,  two  other  men  were 
killed  by  the  Indians.  Blakely,  Harris  and  one  other,  name 
now  forgotten,  came  up  from  Webber's  Praiirie,  some  six  or 
seven  miles  below,  and  stopped  over  night  at  Hornsby's, 
l-eavicg  next  morning  to  hunt  for  wild  stray  cattle — "m^av- 
erieks" — of  which  there  were  a  great  number  ranging  on 
the  river  at  that  time — common  property  and  "free  to  who- 
ever might  be  luciy  enough  to  kill  them."  Having  crossed 
the  river  and  entered  the  range,  and  just  as  Harris  and  the 
unknown  man  were  ascending  the  btrk  of  a  small  ravine', 
they  were  fired  upon  and  killed.  Blakel^^  who  fortunately 
was  some  distance  in  the  rear,  wheeled,  put  spurs  to  his 
horse  and  succeeded  in  escaping  by  fast  riding.  The  mur- 
dered men  were  scalped  and  disemboweled,  their  entrails 
strewn  upon  bushes,  their  arms  chopped  off  and  hearts 
cut  out.  "Such,"  says  Wilbarger,  was  the  unsettled  state  of 
affairs  in  the  Hornsby  settlement  in  1836 ;  nor  did  the 
Indians  cease  their  murders  in  this  section  for  many  years 
afterward,  as  late  as  1845 — as  will     be     shown     further     on. 


Note—The  following  letter  from  Hon.  W.  T.  Davidson, 
(lately  deceased)  gives  further  details  of  the  murder  of 
his  father  and  of  Crouch,  his  companion,  by  the  -  Indians. 
The  statements  can  be  relied  on  as  true.    The  letter  follows: 

Belton,  Texas,  March  25,  1907. 
Mr.  J.  T.  DeShields, 

Farmersville,  Texas. 
Dear  Sir: — At  your  request  I  send  you  a  short  account 
of  the  killing  of  Robert  Davidson,  my  father,  by  the  Coman- 
che Indians  in  1836.  Mr.  Davidson  was  born  in  Kentucky 
on  July  1,  1799.  Married  Rebecca  Landis  in  Ohio  in  1825; 
settled  in  Illinois  and  from  there  moved  to  Texas  in  1838. 
First  stopped  in  Burleson  county  on  Davidson's  Creek,  near 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  201 

the  present  town  of  Caldwell,  and  set  up  the  body  of  a  log 
house,  but  never  did  finish  it,  and  moved  from  there  up  to 
Nashville  on  the  Brazos,  and  from  there  in  the  fall  of  1834 
moved  with  his  family  up  to  the  Three  Forks  of  Little 
River,  settled  on  his  headright  league  of  land,  and  built  a 
log  cabin  in  the  bottom  on  the  river  bank,  for  protection 
against  the  Indians,  In  1835  he  cleared  about  four  acres  of 
land  and  put  it  in  corn  and  pumpkins.  The  Indians  having 
become  so  bold  and  troublesome,  my  father  moved  his  fam- 
ily back  to  Nashville  in  the  fall  of  1835,  but  in  the  spring  of 
1836,  he  went  back  to  his  home  on  Little  River  to  plant  a 
crop,  but  before  he  got  through,  Santa  Anna  had  invaded 
Texas,  butchered  the  defenders  of  the  Alamo,  and  then  the 
settlers  having  been  notified  by  couriers,  sent  from  Nash- 
ville up  on  Little  River,  to  fall  back  to  Nashville,  as  the 
country  was  being  over-run  by  Mexicans    and    Indians.    My 

father,  Jasper  Crouch,  Gouldsby  Childers,  0.  T,  Tyler, 

Shackelford,  Jno.  Beal,  Jack  Hopscn,  Ezekiel  Robertson 
and  probably  two  or  three  others,  on  receipt  of  this  informa- 
tion, made  immediate  preparations  to  retreat  in  a  body  to 
Nashville.  Their  only  vehicle  was  a  wagon  to  be  drawn  by 
a  single  pair  of  oxen.  They  had  some  horses  but  not 
enough  to  mount  the  entire  party.  On  the  morning  of  the 
first  day  they  arrived  at  Henry  Walker's  on  Walker's 
Creek,  about  7  or  8  miles  north  of  the  present  town  of  Camer- 
on,    There  they  found  Henry  Walker,    Campbell   Smith    and 

j\Ionroe.    On  the  next  morning    the    party    started   on 

their  journey  to  Nashville,  and  father  and  Crouch  concluded 
the  party  was  out  of  danger  from  the  Indians,  and  their 
families  being  down  at  Nashville,  told  the  balance  of  th-e 
party  they  would  go  on  ahead,  and  reach  Nashville  that 
evening,  but  they  had  got  about  300  yards  ahead  of  the  main 
party,  when  about  200  Inddans,  coming  up  in  their  rear, 
passed  by  the  main  party  without  making  any  halt,  and 
pushed  ahead  and  attacked  my  father  and  Crouch,  who 
made  a  bold  stand,  but  were  both  slain  by  the  merciless 
ravages,  after  losing  one  or  two  of  their  number. 


202  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXxiS. 

This  occurrence  took  place  in  the  month  of  Marcli  ac- 
cording to  my  riecallection  of  the  event;  others  say  as  late 
as  June,  1836. 

My  father  had  studied  medicine  before  moving  to  Texas, 
and  brought  some  valuable  medical  works  with  him,  but  not 
being  sufficiently  settled,  he  never  practiced  in  this  country. 
Jasper  Crouch,  who  was  killed  with  my  father,  was  a  Mis- 
sionary Baptist  preacher,  he  and  my  father  were  close 
friends,  and  were  both  buried  in  the  same  gravie  on  the 
prairie  where  they  were  slain  about  7  or  8  miles  north  of  the 
present  town  of  Cameron.  They  were  buried  the  next  day 
by  friends  who  came  up  from  Nashville.  Judge  0.  T.  Tyler 
and  a  few  others  performed  the  last  sad  rites.  Years  after  I 
went  on  the  ground  where  m/  father  and  Crouch  were  mur- 
dered, for  the  purpose  of  finding  their  grave,  if  possible, 
that  1  might  give  them  a  more  decent  burial.  The  land  hav- 
ing been  put  in  cultivation,  and  all  plowed  over,  I  soon 
found  that  I  would  never  be  able  to  find  it.  So  gave  up  the 
idea  with  a  sad  heart.  I  am  the  only  member  of  the  origi- 
nal Davidson  family  that  moved  to  Texas  in  1833,  now  liv- 
ing. And  Mrs.  0.  T.  Tyler,  Hon.  Geo.  W.  Tyler's  mother, 
is  the  only  member  of.  the  original  Childers  family,  left, 
and  she  is  living  in  Belton,  loved  and  respected  by  all.  Rob- 
ert Childers  after  living  a  lon^  and  useful  life,  died  near 
Temple  on  his  farm. 

Robert  Childers  related  the  following  incident  to  me  as 
having  occurred  on  the  first  day's  march  of  the  party 
down  to  where  they  camped  the  first  night:  As  the  party  in 
the  wagon  stayed  close  together,  my  father  traveled  near 
them  trying  to  kill  a  deer  for  supper.  Finally  be  succeeded, 
and  when  he  overtook  the  party,  he  told  them  he  had  seen 
an  Indian,  when  one  of  the  party  remarked,  "Davidson  is 
scared!"  Another  one  repliel,  saying,  "when  Davidson 
gets  scared,  the  rest  of  us  had  better  look  out." 

A  few  years  after  my  father's  death,  my  mother  married 
L.  M.  H.  Washington.    There  were  three  children     by    this 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 


203 


marriage,   namely,   Elizabeth,  Jennie  and  Annie,  and    all    of 
them,  are  still  living  and  have  interesting  families. 

In  1846,  my  mother's  family  moved  from  Nashville  to 
Austin,  but  after  several  changes,  went  back  to  her  old 
home  in  Illinois  to  visit  h^r  brother,  Fred  Landis,  who  has 
two  sons  in  Congress,  and  one  a  United  States  District  Judge, 
in  Chicago.  My  mother  died  very  suddenly  while  on  that 
visit.  May,  1874,  at  Mt.  Pulaski,  111.,  at  the  home  of  one  of  her 
nephews. 

Hoping  you  may  be  able  to  use  this  hastily  prepared 
sketch  of  my  father  and  his  death,  I  remain, 

Yours  truly,  , 

W.  T.  Davidson. 


CHAPTER  X. 


HE  flow  of  events  in  Texas  history  has  now- 
reached  into  a  distinctive  era — that  of  the 
Lone  Star  Republic — and  henceforward  the 
affairs  and.  destinies  of  Texas  are  under  the 
guidance  and  control  of  its  patriot  fathers, 
who  had  heroically  battled  for  and  won  this 
independence  But  many  breakers  were  yet 
to  be  encountared.  A  predatory  and  menac- 
ing Indian  warfare  had  now  been  carried 
on  for  fifteen  years — a  strife  but  yet  in  the 
incipient  stage  and  which  was  to  increase  in  fierceness  and 
bloody  atrocity  as  the  Republic's  emboldened  and  increasing 
population  expanded  her  borders,  and  pushed  further  into 
the  Indian  country. 


AFFAIRS  OF  STATE— INTERNAL   MATTERS. 

At  the  first  general  lelection  in  the  Republic,  on  Mon- 
day, the  first  day  of  September  1836,  Gem.  Sam  Hoiuston  was 
chosen  President  and  Mirabeau  B.  Lamar,  Vice  President. 
The  First  Congress  convened  at  Colum'bia,  Oct.  3,  and  on 
the  22nd  the  President  and  Vice  President-elect  were  inaug- 
urated. The  Cabinet  was  composed  of  the  following  fa- 
mous and  talented  men:  Stephen  F.  Austin,  Secretary  of 
State;  Henry  Smtith,  Seeiretary  of  the  Treasury;  Thos.  J. 
Rusk,  Secretary  of  War;  S.  Rhodes  Fisher,  Seicretary  of  the 
Na^^y ;  James  Pinckney  Hendereotn,  Attorney  (xeneral ;  and 
Robert  Barr,  Postmaster  General. 

Though  th€   Texas  Congress  at  its  first  session  in  1836 
refmsed  to  pass  a  resolutioin  authorizing    the    liberation    of 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  205 

Saaita  Anna,  Presidient  Houston  assumed  the  responsibility 
of  discharging  him  from  custody  and  sending  him  and  Col. 
Almonte,  to  Wasbington,  D.  C,  in  charge  of  Gleor?ge  W. 
Hockley,  (Inspector  General  of  the  Texas  army)  and  aa 
€S«ort  consistaeg  of  Gen.  Bamaird  E.  Bee  and  Maj.  W.  H. 
Patton. 

Santa  Anna  left  Texas  in  Deeemiber,  1836 ;  arrived  in  Wash- 
ington Janiuary  17,  1837,  where  he  had  an  inteTview  withi 
Presidenit  Jacksion;  later  sailed  firom  Norfolk,  Va.,  for  Vera 
Cruz,  where  he  disembarked  February  23,  1837;  was  de- 
feated in  the  Mexican  presiidential  election  March  1,  1837, 
and  retired  to  his  magnificent  hacienda — Mango  de  Clavo. 

Santa  Anna  regained  populari\ty  by  his  loss  of  a  leg  ia 
an  actiom  at  Veiia  Cruz  during  the  blockade  of  that  port  by 
a  French  fleet  in  1838.  He  was  later  elected  Presideait  of 
Mexico.  After  the  capture  of  the  city  of  Mexico  by  Gen. 
Winfield  Seott  in  the  war  of  1846-8,  between  the  United 
States  and  Mexico,  Samta  Anna  fled  the  country,  and  was 
aubsequently  formally  banished.  He  returned  in  aft»er  years ; 
experienced  a  slight  rise  to  favor;  was  again  compelled 
to  leave;  and  was  finally  permitted  to  return  and  end  his 
dayis'  in  Mexico. 

Although  Mexico  had  repudiated  Santa  Anna's  treaty 
and)  declared  she  would  never  recognize  Texas  independ- 
tnce,  but  little  serious  fears  were  entertained  of  a  second 
invasiout — for  awhile  at  least.  The  invincible  Texans  had 
taught  the  Mexicans  a  lession  not  to  be  soon  forgotten.  But 
a  more  stubborn,  cunning  and  determined  foe  was  yet  to  be 
subdued  and  banished. 

Comanche  chiefs  are  said  to  have  visite'd  the  seat  of 
government  in  the  latter  part  of  January  and  had  a  friend- 
ly talk  with  President  Houston.*    If  they  did,  they  scarce- 

»It  will  be  interesting  to  note  in  this  connection  the  cheerful— but  it  proved  erroneous 
— view,  which  the  fiirst  British  Minister  to  the  Republic  of  Texas— Jas.  T.  Crawford— writ- 
ing his  government  under  date.  May  29,  1837,  entertained  regarding  Indian  affairs  in  Texas 
*•  »  ♦•  "Texas  has  several  companies  of  Rangers  on  the  various  frontiers  to  check  the  In- 
dian tribes.  These  however,  have  but  little  occupation,  as  the  poliey  of  Gen.  Houston  has 
been  conciliatory  and  he  has  very  lately  entered  into  treaties  with  the  most  influential 
chiefs,  who  were  at  the  seat  of  Government  on  a  'Big  Talk'  and  returned  wall  satisfied." 


206  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

ly  got  back  to  th-eir  ciamps  before  tbejy  and  their  followers 
murdered  in  February,  Hon.  John  G.  Robinson, 
representative  of  Fayette  county  in  the  house  of  the  First 
T^xias  Congress,  his  brother,  and)  othiersi — incidents  that  will 
be  detailed  in  their  proper  sequence. 

March  1,  1837,  W.  H.  Secrest,*  living  on  the  Colora- 
do, wrote  to  President  Houston,  telling  of  the  murder  of 
the  Robinson's,  Fortran  attid  two  children.  In  the  course  of 
the  letter  he  says:  "They  are  killing  and  stealing  all  of  our 
Btock,  and  we  eatn't  help  ourselves.  We  are  so  fenv  in  num- 
ber that  we  can't  leiave  our  homes'  to  rout  them.  I  am  here 
the  same  as  both  hands  tied- — four  women  to  guiardi — so  that 
I  can't  get  out  to  see  about  them.  If  you  can't  do  some- 
thiiaig  for  us,  we  are  in  a  bad  situation  and  will  be,  no  doubt 
some  of  our  women  and  children  massacred  the  next  time 
you  bear  from  us.'* 

The  Independence  of  Texas  was  recognized  by  the- 
United  States  Ma,reh  2,  1837 — the  amniversary  of  its'  declara- 
tion by     the  Plenary  convention. 

"During  the  spring  of  1837,"  says  Yoakum,  "a  party  of 
Mexicans  visited  all  the  Indian  nations  on  the  frontier,, 
makitng  to  them  the  most  seductive  offers  to  induce  them 
to  maik-e  war  on  the  Texians.  They  promised  them  arms,  am- 
munition, and  the  plunder  aind  prisoners — women  and  child- 
ren included' — taken  during  the  wiar;  also  peaceable  po&ses- 
siooi  of  the  country  then  held  by  them.  At  the  siame  time,, 
these  emissaries  succeeded  in  persuading  them  that,  if  the 
Texans  were  successful  in  the  war  then  pending  between 
the  latter  and  Mexico,  they  would  seize  the  country  then  oc- 
cupied by  the  different  tribes,  and  drive  them  from  the  land 
of  their  fathers.  Thus  maixy  of  the  prairie  tribes  were  in- 
duced to  join  the  Mexicans." 

Maj.  Le  Grande,  who  was  sent  to  have  a  talk  with  the 
Comanche  Chief,  Chiconie,  reported  him  as  saying  that  so- 
long  as  he  continued  to  see  the  gradual    approach    of    the- 

»Texa8  Archives— State  Library. 


BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS.  207 

'^vhites  and  their  habitations  to  the  hmutimg  grounds  oi  the 
Comanch€s,  so  long  would  he  believe  to  be  true  what  the 
Mexicans  h;ad  told  him,  and  so  long  would  he  comtimue  to  be 
the  ^nemy  of  the  white  race. 

At  the  beginning  of  1837  there  was  a  small  ranger  force 
in  the  field.  It  was  divided  into  detachments,  whdch  were 
estiablishcd  at  the  Falls  of  the  Brazios,  the  Three  Forks  of 
Little  River,  Walnut  Crcrjk,  j  nd  the  Txioiity  River. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  year,  while  there  was  no 
defacto  Texas  army,  parties  of  cavalry  under  Wells,  Seguin, 
Cook,  Karnes,  and  Deaf  Smith,  reiuiered  valuable  service 
against  the'  Inddans^ — Deaf  Smith,  on  'onc  occasion,  scouting 
as  far  west  as  the  Rio  Grande  anid  defeating  a  superior 
force  of  Mexicans  and  Indians. 

The  appiointment  of  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  to  the 
command  of  the  Texas  army,  with  the  ramk  of  senior  Brig- 
adier-General, reduced  Gen.  Felix  Huston  from  first  to 
feeconid'  place,  and  was  followed  by  Huston  challenging 
Johnston.  In  the  du'el  that  followed,  Johnston  was  danger- 
ously, and  for  a  time,  it  was  thought,  mortally,  wounded. 

His  wound  incapacitating  him  for  the  dischjarge  of  the 
duties  of  the  position.  Gen.  Johnston  devolved  the  command 
•of  the  army  on  Col.  Rogers  May  7,  and  wemt  to  the  limited 
States  to  recuperate  his  health.  On  May  18,  following,  Presi- 
dent Houston  furloughed  all  the  army  (a  total  of  1,800  or 
2,000  soldiers  of  all  arms)  except  six  hundred  men,  who,  un- 
paid and  ill-supplied,  personnel^d  the  mere  semblance  of  a  mil- 
tary  force,  which  soon  dwindled  almost  to  the  vanishing 
point,  owing  to  the  men  quitting  the  service  as  fast  as  they 
could. 

The  First  Congress  reconvened  May  1,  1837.  It  passed 
an  act,  approved  June  12,  1837,  prov^iding  for  a  corps  of 
rangers,  to  consist  of  an  aggregate  of  six  hundred  white 
men,  and  a  spy  company  of  Shawnee,  Delaware  or  other 
friendly  Indians.  The  act  appropriated  no  money  to  carry 
it«  provisions  into  effect,  hence  it  was  inoperative,  and  re- 
mained so  until  the  Second  Congress  passed  an  act,  approv- 
ed December  28,  1837,  appropriating  $25,000  for  the  creatioa 


208  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

and  maintenance  of  the  corps.  No  protection  resulted  from 
the  measure  during  1837. 

The  First  Congress  doubtless  relied  on  the  President  be- 
ing able  to  negotiate  at  least  some  part  K)f  the  $5,000,000 
loan  (or  rather,  "borrow")  he  had  been  given  authority 
to  consummate  in  the  United  States.  It  leaned  on  a  broken 
reed,  with  the  usual  result.  The  financial  panic  that  con- 
vulsed the  United  States  at  thit  time  rendered  it  impossible 
for  anybody  to  secure  ready  money  on  even  much  better  se- 
curity than  Texas  had  to  offer. 

One  vessel  of  the  Texas  navy  was  captured  after  an  en- 
gagement with  a  Mexican  brig,  and  two  other  vessels 
foundered,  leaving  only  one  schooner  in  the  service — ^and  it 
was  fit  for,  and  only  used  as,  a  receiving  ship. 

It  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  a  ranging  force 
was'  kept  in  the  field.  It  could  not  have  been  maintained 
for  a  month,  if  the  officres  and  men  had  been  actuated  by 
mercenary  motives. 

The  Mexican  navy  swept  along  the  coast,  and  the  In- 
dians met  with  but  slight  and  inadequate  resistance. 
Yoakum  says,  ''Every  day  or  two  during  the  year  1837, 
some  murdered  citizen  or  stolen  property  attested  the  hos- 
tile feeling  of  the  Indians." 

On  the  first  IMonday  in  September  an  election  was  held, 
at  which  members  of  the  house  of  Representatives  and  one- 
third  of  the  Senators  of  the  Second  Congress  were  chosen. 
That  body  was  convened  in  extra  session  by  President 
Houston  September  26,  1837,  and  enacted  much  important 
legislation — passing  a  land  law  (providing  for  opening  the 
land  office  in  1838)  and  some  other  measures  over  the  Pres- 
ident's veto.  The  growing  opposition  to  President  Hous- 
ton's "stand-pat"  policy  with  regard  to  hostilities  with  Mex- 
ico, and  his  policy  of  conciliation  with  regard  to  the  In- 
dians, became  crystalized  and  was  given  expression  to  in  the 
Second  Congress. 

During  the  year,  rumors  of  an  invasion  of  Texas  by 
Mexico,  came  near  producing  another     "runaway     scrape," 


HEROIC   DEFENSE  OF  THE  TAYLOR    FAMIL-Y-PAGE  137 


ERATH'S    FIGHT    WITH   AN     INOIAN  — PAGE   321 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  209 

such  as  that  of  1836.  The  only  reason  they  did  not,  waa  be' 
cause  the  invasion  did  not  occur.  Texas  was  totally  unpre- 
pared for  not  only  offensive,  but  defensive  measures. 

Gen.  Houston  believed  that  if  treaties  of  peace  were  en- 
tered into  with  the  Indians  and  they  were  dealt  with  kind- 
ly and  justly,  hostilities  would  cease,  and  the  two  racea 
could  and  would  live  peaceably  side  by  side.  The  de- 
fect in  his  reasoning  was  tliat  the  points  of  views,  the 
habits,  aims,  desires,  and  real  interests  of  the  Indians  and 
the  white  people,  were  radical  and  necessarily  antagonistic, 
and  it  was  beyond  diplomacy  or  any  other  human  power 
to  harmonize  them.  War — continual  war — ending  in  the  sur- 
vival of  the  fittest — was  inevitable  and  irrepressible,  was 
perhaps,  the  only  solution  possible.  Still,  the  motives  that 
actuated  him  were  philanthropic  and  noble.  As  means  to  the 
ends  he  had  in  view,  he  exerted  himself  to  obtain  treaties 
with  various  tribes.  Congress  co-operated  with  him  to  the 
extent  of  passing  an  act  providing  that  commissioners  to  the 
Indians  should  be  paid  five  dollars  a  day  for  their  services. 

September  14,  1837,  Secretary  of  War  Thomas  J.  Rusk 
and  Gen.  K.  H.  Douglass  issued  written  instructions*  to 
Jesse  Watkins  to  proceed,  with  Lewis  Sanchez  as  interpre- 
ter, to  the  prairies  and  have  a  talk  with  the  chiefs  and  head 
men  of  the  Keechies,  Caddos,  Tonkawas  and  lonies,  with  a 
view  to^making  a  treaty  of  amity  and  commerce  with  them. 
The  letter  of  instructions  directed  him  to  tell  them  that  *'we 
are  disposed  to  be  at  peace  with  all  our  red  brethren; 
that  we  are  disposed  to  break  our  long  knives  and  bury  our 
tomahawks  with  them,  and  to  open  a  wide  road  between  the 
house  of  the  red  and  white  man;  that  all  that  we  shall  re- 
quire of  them  will  be  to  give  up  the  prisoners  they  have  of 
ours,  to  bring  back  all  of  the  property  they  have  stolen, 
and  not  to  murder  and  steal  any  more,  and  to  prevent  other 
Indians  from  doing  so  where  they  may  know  of  it — to  all 
of  which,  if  they  will  agree,  you  may  promise  them  that  we 


»Texaa  Archivea— State  Library. 


210  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

will  make  a  treaty  of    peace  with  them  which  shall  last  for- 
-ev^r. 

"These  presents  which  are  furnished  you,  you  may  distrib- 
ute as  you  may  think  proper,  and  you  may  make  such  ar- 
rangements about  the  chiefs  coming  in  as  is  most  satisfactory 
to  the  Indians.  We  would  like  it  well  if  they  could  be 
brought  dtown  to  the  seat  of  government ;  but,  for  fear  that 
cannot  be  done,  we  will  ask  the  President  to  nominate  two 
Commissioners  here  who  can  treat  with  them  and  who  will 
be  furnished  with  the  proper  instructions.  In  your  talk 
with  them  you  will  be  careful  not  to  promi&e  them  lands 
at  any  particular  place ;  and  be  cautious  that  you  make  no 
promise,  however  slight,  that  cannot  be  strictly  complied 
with." 

Henry  W.  Karnes  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace  and  com- 
merce with  the  Tonkawas  at  San  Antonio,  November  22, 
1837,  under  the  terms  of  which  Nathaniel  Lewis  was  to  be 
trading  agent  among  them  and  they  were  to  buy  articles 
from,  and  make  sales  to  no  other  person. 

Durimg  the  latter  part  of  thie  year  Noah  Smdtiiwiek  im- 
dtuecd!  five  Comanche  chiefs  to  go  with  him  to  Houstoaa, 
where  some  sort  of  agreement  was  entered  into  with  t!hem, 
but  it  was  lived  up  tlo  by  neitber  party. 

Texas  IndEams  considered  tlhemselves  as  the  real  lords 
of  the  soil  under  the  old  regime,  and  Spaniards  and  Mexi- 
cans as  tenants  at  will.  They  regarded  the  Anglo-Am- 
ericans as  intruders,  who  were  robbing  them  of  that  which 
was  rightfully  theirs.  Indians  from  the  United  States  who  had 
effected  lodgment  in  Texas  believed  they  had  rights  which 
were  being  criminally  trampled  under  foot  by  the  white  peo- 
ple. 

The  white  men  on  their  part,  did  not  recognize  the  right 
of  savagery  to  pre-empt  so  beautiful  and  fertile  a  djomain  as 
Texas,  and  unflinchingly  demanded  and  conquered  it,  with  the 
design  that  it  should  afford  a  theatre  for  the  development  of 
a  high  and  splendid  civilization  tihat  would  bless  all  who 
participated  in  it,  andi  contribute  to  the  happiness  of  mtan- 
kind. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  211 

Furthermore,  there  were  "biadj  IndianB"  and  "bad 
white  miein"  w'h'O  pouredl  oil  on  the  flames  ol  warfare,  every 
tim'e  they  burned  low,  till  the  last  tepee  crumbled  to  ash&i 
aaiJd  the  last  brave  (nearly  fifty  years  after  the  time  cover- 
ed by  this  chapter)  retreated  from  the  cionfinies  of  Texas, 
never  more  to  return. 

The  picture  of  1837  as  further  revealed  by  history, 
is  eeeni  not  to  be  m^ade  up  solely  of  sombre  colors. 

The  seaiTcais  were  remarkably  propitious,  and  abundant 
cotton  and  food  crops  were  raised.  The  cotton  crop 
amomnted  to  more  than.  50,000  bales  audi  was  sold  for  good 
prices. 

The  Mexican  ranch  owners,  who  formerly  dwelt  be- 
tw-een  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  and  who  abandoned  that 
region  in  1836,  left  behind  them  immense  herds  of  cattle. 
Petople  living  farther  east  "rounded  up"  and  appropriated 
thds  stock,  which  gave  them  a  gOod  saipply  for  breeding  and 
Ofther  puflrpoises — in  some  instan<:ies,  from  two  hundired  to  six 
hundred  head  to  the  cowboy.* 

The  sale  of  lots  on  Galveston  Island,  (mnder  authority 
of  an  act  of  Congress)  resulted  in  the  establishment  and  rap- 
id growth  of  the  town  of  Galveston.  A  fine  line  of  sailitng 
packets  was  established  between  New  York,  New  Orleans, 
andi  Texas. 

Congress,  by  the  act  of  November  4,  1837,  appropriated 
$280,000.00  for  the  establishment  of  a  new  Texas  navy,  to  con- 
sist of  six  armed  vessels — one  ship,  or  brig,  eighteen  guns; 
two  barques,  twe.ve  guns  each;  and  three  schooners, 
seven  guns  each. 

New  counties  and  towns  \^  ire  created.  A  stream  of  de- 
sirable immigratiooi  flowed  steadily  into  Texas  druring  thic 
year,  with  augmenting  volume;  industrial  enterprises  were 
introidlucied  in  a  small  way  an<d  some  of  them  successfully 
operated;  the  mech'anism  of  government  was  adjusted  and 
set  in  motion;  and  the  commonwealth  girded  itself  for,  and 


»The  term  "cow-boy"  is  said  to  have  been  first  need  in  Texas  to  designate  these  cat- 
tle hunters. 


212  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

started  sturdily  forward  upon  the  high  career  it  haa  sdnca 
pursued. 

The  shadiOTvs  that  lay  upcn  the  land,  servieid  but  to 
hei-ghtco,  t'hie  be-auty  &iid  aldd  to  the  ch^eeiriiig  effects  of  the 
sunjshi(ne  that  was  mingled  with  them,  and  that  rested  upoa 
it  like  a  beaxedicticn. 

Brave  hearts  and  true,  met  the  dangers  and  difficulties 
of  the  present  unflinchingly,  and  pressed  ^oni  to  the  fujtur© 
with  Gonfidence  and  enthusiasm.  It  was  not  a  "phanitiom/  of 
lw>pe"  or  ** delusion,  of  fancy"  that  led  them  on,  buit  the 
Spirit  of  Progress,  which  had  selected  them'  for  najtioai 
builders,  and  nerved  them  for  and  kept  them  at  their  task. 


BTORDER  OF  THE  GOTCHER  FABOLY  —  CAPTURE     OF 
MRS.  CRAWFORD  AKD  THREE  CHILDREN. 

Among  the  valuable  aaid  prominent  accessions  to  Austin's 
CoLony,  was  James  Goitcher,*  a  native  of  Alabama,  who  emi- 
grated in  1835,  stettling  with  'his  flamily  and  sion-in-law, 
Orawf ord,  at  a  point  on  Rabb  's  Creek,  near  the  jDresent  town 
of  Giddings,  in  Lee  county. 

Etrecting  comfortable  cabins,  openoffig  farms,  and  ac- 
eumulatiing  ample  and  inerea^iag  stocks  of  cattle,  horses 
land  hcigs,  these  settlers  Wiere  prosperous  and  happy.  Other 
famdlies  soion  located  in  the  vicinity,  and  fior  a  time  all  went 
well.  But  alas!  tbiey,  too,  were  destined  to  meet  a  flate — the 
common  fate  befalling  s,o  many  of  the  brave  piooiieers  in  thj 
settling  and  reclaiming  of  Texas. 

On  the  same  day,  and  by  the  same  party  of  Indians  wbo 
had  murdered  Congressman  Riobinscn  and  his  brother,  the 
Golteher  home  was'  attaeked.  At  the  time,  Mr.  Gotcher,  with 
one  son,  and  Crawford,  were  away,  cutting  and  hauldnig  wood 
from  the  bottom.  The  Indians  approached  the  house  in  two 
parties,  one  of  which  came  upon  a  little  son  and  daughter  of 


♦Gotier,  pronounced  Gotcher  by  Texana  of  that  day,  and  so  spelled  in  some  accounts. 
Enroute  from  the  lower  colony,  they  first  marked,  and  afterwards  cut  out.  the  trail  or  road 
aince  known  as  the  "Gotcher  Trace"— once  much  traveled. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  213 

Mr.  Gotieher  niear  the  dlw-elling,  killing  and  scalping  the  boy, 
and  making  a  prisoner  of  the  little  girl.  In  the  house  were 
Mrs.  Najiiey  Gotcher,  her  maiTri^d'  dauighter,  Mrs.  Jame 
Crawford,  and  several  children.  Seeonig  thait  they  ha-di  only  tio 
<5onit€iid'  with  women  said  children,  the  Ind/iaxis  disr<jgiarded 
th^ir  nsinal  mode  of  atta-ck  ard  rushed'  directly  upon  the 
caibin,  •expectimg  to  meet  with  little  lor  no  re-sist-ance.  They 
were  mistaken  in  their  calculations.  Eiotli  the  womeit  in- 
eide,  seizedi  the  few  guns  that  were  there,  .and  discharged 
them,  one  after  aaiiother,  into  tbe  midlst  of  the  yelling  mass 
of  aasiailajits.  There  was  no  time  to  reload.  The  siavages 
burst  intio  the  room,  and  one  of  them,  armed  with  a  gun,  shot 
and  kdlled  Mrs.  Gotcher,  whos-e  body  w,as  alreadij^  dotted 
with  aiTOWs  thiat  had  been  fired  ixuto  it.  ISIrs.  Crawford  was 
OTeTXHjwered  and  she  and  heir  two  cbildTen  ( one  of  them  two 
months  old)  were  made  captives.  A  little  s-on  of  Mr.  Gotch- 
er  attempted  to  make  has  escape  but  was  seized,  as  he  turned 
the  corner  of  (the  house,  by  an  Indian.  He  caught  one  of  the 
Indian's  thumbs  in  his  mouth  and  bit  it  uaitil  the  warri'Or 
forced  him  to  let  go  \ry  beating  him  with  a  ramro'd. 

Mr.  Goteher,  and  his  so,r,  and  Criawfiord,  ran  to  the 
house  when  they  heard  the  firing ;  but  im  the  excitement  of 
the  moment  forgot  to  bric'g  their  guns  with  tliemi  from  the 
woods.  They  arrived  upon  tbe  scene  while  the  tragedy  was 
being  eniacted.  There  was  neither  time  nor  opportuxidty  for 
them  to  return  for  their  weapons,  their  dear  ones  were  be- 
ing murdered,  or  takea  prisoners,  and  were  appealing  to 
them  for  succor. 

They  made  a  bold  and  desperate  dtash  for  the  house,  in- 
tending to  secure  the  guns  there,  and  make  battle.  The 
ch!ance  was  not  only  a  forlorn,  but  a  hopeless  one,  and  fight- 
ing gallantly  as  best  thejy  coald,  they  soon  fell  beneath  the 
fire  and  6,i>ear  thrustis  of  the  Indiaois,  before  goin.g  many 
Steps.  Th^  son  fought  desperatel^y,  almost  amputating  the 
thtoat  of  a  warrior  with  has  teeth.  Another  son,  aftej  be- 
img  mortally  wound'ed,  crawled  to  a  clump  of  trees,  unob- 
served,  pillowed  his  head  on  a  ro^k,  and  expired.    Thus  the 


214  :        BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

bloody  tragedy  was  soon  over.  The  Gatcher  home,  being 
somewhat  isolated,  the  occurrence  was  not  known  for  some 
daya  later  when  casually  vdsited  by  Gen.  Ed.  Burleson,  too 
late  for  successful  puTsuit  of  the  Indiaaiis. 

But  the  news  soon  spread  far  «iid  near,  filling  every 
heart  with  indignation  and  horror.  "This,"  says  Wilbar- 
ger, who  furnishes  the  only  details  of  the  horrible  affair, 
*'was  inideed  one  of  the  iblloodieist  tragedies  that  had  ever  /oc- 
curred up  to  that  time  in  the  settlem'ent.  A  fatUier,  wife,  son 
and  son-in-law  anid  two  children,  lay  cold  in  dteath,  and 
roingled  t«ogether  their  kinidrec  blood,  where  but  a  few  hours 
previously,  they  had  assembled,  in  fanicied  security,  within 
the  walls  lof  tb'eir  lonee  bapfpy  home." 

But,  gentle  reader,  the  sad  story  stops  not  here.  After 
plunid'ering  the  house  and  mutilating  their  victims,  the  fiend- 
ish murderers  departed,  carrying  as  captives,  Mrs.  Crawford; 
her  twK>  children  anid  the  little  daugMer  of  Mrs.  Gotch'er. 
They  suffered,  as  the  prisoners  of  Indiians'  usually  did,  all  the 
hardsihips  and  indignities  their  barbarous  captors  could  in- 
flict. 

The  Indians,  annoyed  by  the  crying  of  Mrs.  Crawford's 
two  months  old  babe,  threw  it  into  a  deep  pool,  tjO  drown. 
The  desperate  mother  plunged  into  the  water,  seized  the 
cliild,  and  swaim  with  it  toj  tlie  bank.  Again  and  again  they 
seized  and  tossed  it  back,  and  as  often  the  determined  moth- 
er rescued  hei*  child.  Fior  a  tim-e  tbiis  was  sport  for  the  cruel 
fdendls,  but  tiring  of  their  deviltry,,  a  brave  lifted  the  child 
in  his  bandfii  and  bending  back  its  head,  told  a  companiom  to 
cut  its  throat.  As  the  knife  was  raised,  and  the  diabolical 
deed  about  to  be  consummated,  the  frantic  mother  felled  the 
fiend  with  a  billet  of  wood.  As  the  Inddan  lay  motion- 
less at  her  feet,  as  a  result  of  the  blow  she  had  dealt  him, 
she  expected  only  death  as  her  fate.  But  instead,  the  In- 
dians merely  laughed  at  their  fallen  comrade,  anid  expressed 
much  adimirati/on  for  her  bravery,  and  now  returned  the 
child,  saying,  ''Stquaw  too  much  brave.  Damn  you,  take 
your  papooste  and  carry  it  yourself — we  widl  not  do  it." 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXxVS.  215 

After  a  captivity  of  two  -or  three  years,  durimg-  wihtieli 
time  Mrs.  Crawfcaid  was  subj^eoted  to  the  most  shaaneful 
treatment,  she  and  the  chiMreJi  were  brougtbt  into  HiolLaad 
Coffee's  trading"  hiouse  on  Red  River.  Here  Mr.  Spauldiag, 
a  trader,  formed  an  attachment  for  the  njDfortain'ate  lady  and 
purchased  the  captives — the  ransdm  being"  400  y«ards  of  cali- 
co, a  large  number  of  blankets,  a  quantity  of  beads,  and 
some  other  articles.  Mr.  Spaulding  married  the  "widow  and 
brou-gfht  them  all  back  to  Bastrop  countty.  Children  born  of 
this  union/  yet  survive  im  Texas. 


LIEUT.  WREN'S  FIGHT. 

Early  in  thie  Sipring  otf  this  year,  Lieut.  Wren  with  ade- 
taichttnent  of  fifteen  rangers  from  Colemian's  Fort,  attacked 
and  defeated  a  party  of  Coraanche  warriors  near  the  site 
oif  the  preseut  city  of  Ausltin.  They  were  surprised  in  their 
camp  just  ajt  dayli-ght,  and  one  of  their  number  killed  by  Joe 
Weeks,  at  the  firslt  fire.  The  Indiansi  took  shelter  in  a  ra- 
vine and  foug:ht  braveV,  but  th^e  rangers  rapidly  moved 
d'Orwn  upfcoi  them,  pouring  in  a  heavy  fire  which  caused  the 
enemy  to  scatter  and,  seek  siafety  in  the  adjoining  cedar- 
brabes — leaving  their  camp  equipag'e  and  a,  caballado  of 
stolen  horses  to  the  whites.  Bui  the  joy  of  the  victory  was 
saddened  by  the  loss  of  one  of  the  rangers,  Phillip  Martin, 
who  wajs  shiot  in  the  mouth  and  inistantly  killed. 


MURDER  OF  CONGRESSMAN  ROBINSON  AND  HIS 
BROTHER. 

In  February  of  this  year  a  .party  of  thirty  or  forty  Cbm- 
anche  Indians  came  down  into  Fayette    county  on  a  horse 
stealing  expedition,  and  on  their  way-out,  m'ct  and' murdered 
the  Hon.  Jlohn  G.  Robinson  and  his  youthful  brother,   Wal- 
ter.* 

ifNeal  Robinson,  of  Farette  county,  son  of  Joel  W.  Robinson  (or  Robison)  says  the 
famly  have  always  spelled  the  name  Robison.  It  appears  as  Robinson  in  the  reeoUeetiona 
of  his  father  in  Vol.  6,  of  the  Texas  Historial  Assoeiation'Quarterly,  and  as  it  is  more  fa- 


216  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Judigie  Riobinscin  was  one  of  Austin's  colt)iii6ts,  comiD^ 
in  1831,  and  settling- «ii  his  headright  league,  on  Cummings 
Creek  within  the  present  limits  -of  Fayiett^  connty.  H^e  was 
an  educated  gentleman,  filling  valuable  positione,  and  his 
fTeiath  was  greatly  deplored.  At  th«  tim^e  of  his  d^atlh,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  First  Congress  of  the  Republic,  which 
convened  at  Columbia,  in  the  fall  of  1836. 

During  the  session  he  bought  a  supply  of  groceri^ee  and 
sent  them  to  a  house  of  a  Mr.  Stevens,  a  neighbor  living 
feome  five  miles  south  of  his  aom^e. 

In  February,  1837,  sodn  after  hie  return  from  Columibia, 
Judge  Robinson  and  his  brother  went  with  a  team  to  bring 
home  the  supplies.  They  were  to  stay  over  night  with  Stev- 
eins,  and  no  uneasiness  was  felt  by  the  f-amily  till  the  n-ext 
morning,  when  it  becamie  known  that  Indians  had  visited 
the  settlement.  We  quote  details  as  given  by  the  son,  Jo»4 
W.  Robinson: —  *  *  "At  that  time  I  was  at  my  father's  on 
a  visit — my  resideuice  being  at  Washington  on  the  Brazos. 
Very  early  in  the  mornitng  after  father  left  home,  I  started 
down  to  Mr.  Breeding's  about  eight  miles  b«low  on  Cum- 
min'gs  Creek,  purposing  to  go  thence  to  Washingtcn.  Wlien 
I  arrived  at  Breeding's,  I  learned  that  the  night  before,  the 
Indians  had  stokm  all  his  horses.  Knowing  th'at  my  fath^er 
and  uncle  intended  starting  home  early  that  moiming,  and 
that  they  were  unarmjed,  I  was  instantly  siez€d  with  a  pre- 
fiemtiment  that  the  Indians  would  fall  in  with  and  murdier 
tbem.  I  reitiurned  as  speedily  as  possible  to  my  mother  and 
told  the  news.  She  w-as  very  uneasy.  It  was  about  noon. 
I  armed  myself  and  proceeded  on  the  road  toward  Stevens'. 
I  haTd  scarcely  gone  a  mile,  when,  in  the  open  post  oak  woods 
I  found  my  fatber's  cart  and  oxen  standing  in  the  road. 
The   groceries   were   also   in   the  cart.  But  neither  father  nor 

miliar  to  Texas  readers  in  that  form,  it  is  not  altered  to  the  correct  epellin^  in  this  article. 
Joel  W.  Robinson  was  one  of  the  men  who  captured  Santa  Anna  after  the  battle  of  San 
Jacinto,  and  prior  to  and  subeequent  to  that  time,  took  part  in  many  expeditions  against 
the  Indians.  Both  he  and  his  father  participated  in  the  attacks  upon  and  capture  of  the 
Mexican  fort  at  Valasco  in  1832.  He  also  took  part  in  the  storming  and  capture  of  San 
Antonio  in  December,  1835.  under  Milam  and  Johnson.  The  family  came  to  Texas  iron 
G«orria  In  1831. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  21'Zr 

imele  were  th^re.     I  had  now  no  doobt  of  their  fate.     The- 
convietioD  that  they  were  murdered  shot  into  my  h«art  like- 
a  thunder  bolt.     Riding  cm  a  few  yards  further  I  discoveredf' 
buzzards  collecting  near  the  road.      My     appr-oach     &eare<E 
them  away  and  reve^aledi  to  my  sight  tihe  body  of  my    fatber^ 
nude,  scalped  and  mutilated.    I  dismounted  and  sat  dawn  hy^ 
the  body.    After  recovering  a  little  from  the  shiock  I  Looked 
-around  for  uncle.    I  fouind  his  body,  also  stripped,     &cali>e'& 
and  miangled,  about  fif^ty  yards  from  my  father's      remains^ 
His  body  was  small  and  ligbt  and  I  carried  it  and  laid  it  hy 
the  side  of  my  father.     The  vulture,  m  black  groups,  were- 
perched  on  the  trees  around,  and  I  knew  they  would  quick- 
ly devour  the  bodies  if  I  left  them  exposed.    I  covered  tbem* 
with  a  coat  and  saddle  bl^anket  and    piled    brush  upon  them. 
1  'then  hurried  back  with  the   woeful  news  to  my  aged  mother. "- 
•  •  *     And  as  this  narrative  closes,  we  leave  the  reader  to 
picture  the  pathetic,  heart-rending,  scene  between  that  sud- 
denly widowed  mother  and  orphaned  son. 


LITTLE  RIVER  FORT—ERATH'S  FAMOUS  FIGHT. 

Late  in  1836,  in  accordance  with  a  previously  agreed  plaiB 
looking  to  the  special  protection  of  Robertson's  Colony,  Capt. 
C'jltman,  in  commamd  of  ranger  forces,  proceeded  to  locate 
a  block  house  station  or  log  fort  about  the  "Three  Forks"  of 
Little  River.    Lieut.  George  B.Erath     was     detailed     with  a 
small  force  to  erect  the  buildiiigis  and  to  protect  that  point. 
Of  the  thrilling  events  that  soon    occurred,    Erath    himself^ 
teljs  in  a  graphic  narrative  prepared  expressly  for  this  work : 
"On  returning  from  the  army  after  the  battle  of  Saai  Jacinto,, 
1  became  attached  immediatelj'^  to  Robertson's  company  oper- 
itting  against  the  Indians,  and  in   July     was     transfered     to 
Capt.  Hill's  company  operating  between  the  Brazos  and  Col- 
orado— participating  iln  an  engagement  on  the  Yegua  in  Au- 
gust.   On  the  first  of  October  I  enlisted  m  a  corps  of  rangers- 
then  commanded  by  Col.  Coleman,  serving  as  lieutenant  uffi-- 
der  Captaiji  Barren.     I  may  licre  mention  that  ihe  men    ic^ 


218  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

this  service  were  promised  1280  acres  of  land,  whiich  ih-ey  re- 
ceived, and  $25.00  a  montih,  whicli  was  paid  after  a  time,  in 
depreciated  currency  —  Texas  'red  backs.'  The  men  were 
to  be  furnished'  with  rations  of  every  kind.  This  was  gener- 
ally a  failure,  though  the  govcrument  furnished  us  ammuni- 
tion to  kill  game  with,  which  was  our  principal  support.  The 
First  Congress  passed  a  law  authorizing  the  raising  of  five 
companies,  who  were  to  provide  their  own  horses  and  arms, 
but  be  furnished  everything  e1so.  About  half  the  mem  had 
horses,  and  s^me  hald  very  poor  guns,  borrowed  or  pressed 
from  citizens.  Those  of  us  who  had  horses  performed  by  far, 
the  greater  part  of  the  service,  but  there  was  no  distinction 
in  pay,  or  in  rations. 

"In  the  early  part  of  November,  1836,  I  was  placed  in 
command  of  a  few  over  twenty  men  detached  from  Barren's 
company,  and  stationed  at  a  point  on  the  Leon  abiout  one 
mile  from  what  is  known  as  the  'Three  Forks'  of  Little 
River — having  cut  out,  marked  and  Pleasured,  a  road  from 
the  Falls  otf  the  Bra^ois  to  that  place.  Col.  Coleman,  -wiho  had 
accompanied  us  with  a  few  men,  after  planning  for  improve- 
ments, left,  measuring  and  working  a  road  to  his  fort  on 
Walnut  Creek,  about  six  miles  east  of  where  Austin  now 
stands  aaid  about  eight  miles  above  Hornsby's,  the  highest 
settlement  on  the  Colorado. 

"Settlements  had  been  attempted  in  the  surrounding 
country  the  winter  before,  and  here  and  there  patches  of 
corn  were  planted  in  t>he  spring,  mostly  without  fence,  and 
by  a  prolific  season,  some  corn,  not  eaten  by  the  buffalo  or 
vv^ild  stoek,  matured.  Thus  I  was  enabled  to  procure  a  few 
bags  of  com,  which  I  issued  to  my  men — a  'nubbin'  a  day; 
ajid  which  had  to  be  ground  on  a  steel  hand  mill  to  be  made 
into  bread.  For  meat,  we  depended  on  wild  gam-e — then 
plentiful — while  honey  was  obtained  from  numerous  'bee 
trees,'  and  kept  in  rawhide  or  deerskin  saeks,  made  with  the 
hair  outside.    Coffee  was  scarce  and  used  sparingly. 

"The  details  of  operaitions  up  to  Christmas,  are  unimpor- 
tant. By  that  time  I  had  up  seven  or  eight  houses,  well  oov- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  219 

ered,  with  woaden  ehinweysi  to  them;  buffalo  rabe^  for  car- 
pets or  floors.  One  -of  the  soldiers — Collins — having  a  fami- 
ly, had  one  of  the  cajbins  to  himself,  and  Gouldsby  Childers, 
a  settler,  with  his  family,  <o<;eupied  another.  Thus  we  were 
.not  idle,  besides  my  men  had  to  dresis  deersikins  to  make 
themselves  clothes,  especially  moccasins. 

"And  now  to  the  operations.  As  already  alluded  to.  Con- 
gress reorganized  the  ranger  corps.  Most  of  the  old  officers 
were  retained,  new  ones  added,  and  some  of  the  inferiors  pro- 
.noted.  The  commander,  Ool.  Coleman,  was  deposed  by  Gen. 
Houston  and  Major  Smith  appointed — the  •effect  of  which 
took  place  abooit  Christmas.  Lieut.  Cuxtis  was  se'nt  to  Little 
River  Fort  about  that  time  to  take  command,  with  orders  for 
me  to  hold  myself  in  readiness  at  any  moment  to  proceed 
(under  additional  special  orders  to  be  sent)  to  Colorado 
Fort  (Coleman's  Fort)  to  inaugurate  the  new  system  and 
notify  Col.  Coleman  to  depart.  This  new  and  special  order 
did  not  airrive  till  the  4sth  of  January,  1837,  when  it  was  de- 
livered by  Lieut.  ^IcLoohlin.  But  the  informatioji  of  great- 
est consequemce  he  brought,  was  that  he  had  seen  the  tracks 
of  some  dozen  Lidians  on  foot,  going  down  the  coumtry  about 
twelve  miles  from  the  fort,  on  ihe  waters  of  Elm  Creek.  All 
was  now  excitement  and  busitle  in  quarters,  as  we  determined 
to  intercept  and  prervent  these  Indians  reaching  the  settle- 
ment below  and  doing  mischief.  Lieut.  Curtis,  now  proper- 
ly in  -command  and  ranking  officer,  refused  to  make  pursuit 
and  at  first  objected  to  the*  horses  being  used — suggesting 
that  I  proceed  with  eight  or  ten  men  on  foot.  During  the 
night,  a  cold  rain  set  in  and  continned  with  heatvy  down- 
pour through  the  next  day.  Finally,  arran/gements  having 
been  made,  about  10  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  we 
left  on  the  scout.  My  force  consisted  of  fourteen  me;n,  rank 
and  file:  Sergeant  McLochlin,  and  rangers,  Lee  R.  Davis, 
Daniel  Claa-k,  (an  elderly  man)  Emx)son  Thompson,  Jack 
Gross,  Robert  Childers,  and  his  boy  brother,  Frank,  Jack 
Houston  (volunteers)  John  Folks,  Lewis  and  ISIaurice  Moore, 
Green  McCoy — ^tbe  three  latter  also  were  meire  boys —  and 


220  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Leishly,  a  prospector.  Four  of  our  numiber  bad  nevier  been 
in  batitle  before.  Besides,  four  young  men  from  the  eettk- 
ments  below,  whose  parents  had  lived  im  th-e  vicinity  beifore 
the  'runaway  scrape'  in  1836,  and  who  had  been  sent  back 
to  look  after  stock  and  other  property  that  had  been  left  be- 
hind, decided  to  accompany  us  so  far  as  we  traveled  in  the 
direction  of  th^r  homes  at  Nashville,  some  sixty  mile«  below 
— but  my  course  soon  deflecting  they  parted  company  and 
continued  alone. 

The  trail  was  soon  struck — "but  behold!"  continues 
Erath,  "instead  of  a  dozen  Indians,  signs  showed  nearer  one 
hundred,  all  on  foot  and  leading  toward  the  settleanents  be- 
low. Following  for  two  or  three  miles,  we  came  to  their 
camp  of  the  previous  day  and  night,  and!  where  tfliey  had 
constructed  temporary  brusih  and  grass  shelters  from  the 
rain.  The  signs  were  freshi — the  camp  fires  still  burning. 
The  moccasin  tracks  were  nuinerous — enough  to  d-eter  the 
bravest,  but  we  pushed!  on.  Indians,  and  Indian  hunters 
can  tell  by  the  cast  of  t!he  moccasin  soles  to  what  tribe  the 
wearer  belongs,  but  not  possessing  that  experience  we  were 
compelled  to  advance  without  knowing  whether  we  were  to 
encounter  prairie  tribes  warriors  with  bows  and  lances  or 
Caddos  and  other  semi-civilized  Indians  armed  with  rifles — 
all  brave  and  expert  marksmen." 

At  nightfall  the  little  force  lialtled  in  close  proxlimity  to 
the  enemy,  whose  position  they  reconnQitercd.  The  Indians 
were  encamped  in  a  small  horse-shoe  like  bend,  some 
twenty  three  miles  east  oT  the  fort  and  within  about 
eight  miles  of  a  small  settlemf  nt  near  the  pnesent  town  o? 
Cameron,  in  Milam  county.  Resting  till  four  in  the  morning, 
the  horses  were  saddled,  and  tied  to  trees — ready  to  mount 
in  case  of  retneat — and  the  men  advanced  afoot  under  cover 
of  the  creek  bank. 

As  the  Indians  arose  and  eommejiced  to  build  fires , 
Erath  shifted  his  forces  to  a  position  within  twenty  five 
yards  of  the  foe,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  to  see 
Bights  on  gunB,  delivered'  a  well  aimed  volley,  which  tumhled 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  281 

eight  or  ten  redskins  t(o  the  ground — some  of  them  falliaig 
into  the  ♦'ires.  The  Indians  wire  taken  completedy  by  sur- 
prise and  were  thrown  into  confusion.  Had  the  whites  been 
supplied  with  repeating  arms,  (then  unknown)  they  could 
have  charged  and  kept  the  enemy  on  the  run.  As  it  was,  how 
ever,  they  had  to  stop  and  re-load  their  pieoes  by  the  slow, 
old  time  process.  This  delay  en^bleid  the  savages  to  recover 
in  a  measuire,  from  their  consternation.  Some  of  thean  leap- 
ed behind  trees  and'  returned  tlie  fire,  while  others  mofved  to 
the  right  and  left  flank  to  positions  where  they  could  look  in- 
to the  creek  bottom,  see  the  numerical  strength  of  the 
whites,  and  enfilade  them. 

The  engagement  now  became  desperate,  the  enemy  be- 
ing Caddos,  all  well  armed,  mostly  with  rifles.  David  Clark 
and  Frank  Ohilders  were  mortally  wounded,  andi  all  being 
greatly  exposed,  now  shifted  to  the  oppicsite  bank  and  the 
protection  of  some  small  trees — Erath  remaining  behind  to 
watch  movements.  He  says:  "As  the  men  got  posted,  the 
Indians  came  charging  with  a  terrific  yell.  I  retreated  to 
the  other  side  of  tlie  creek  channel,  but  found  myself  under 
a  steep  bank  six  or  eight  feet  high.  The  Indians  jum-ped 
down  the  bank  of  the  creek.  One  had  his  gun  within  a  few 
feet  of  me,  and  fired,  but  missed  me.  I  could  not  miss  him,* 
and  he  fell  right  before  me.  This  caused/  the  others  to 
dodge  back  a  few  feet  behind  trees." 

As  the  Indians  continued  to  advance,  and  fire  in  com- 
bined force,  Erath  ordered  a  retreat.  This  was  successfully 
accomplished  by  alternation — one  half  the  men  covering  the 
retreat  of  the  other  half  for  thirty  or  forty  yards  at  a 
time,  so  that  half  of  the  guns  were  alternately  loaded;  and 
fired.  In  this  way,  and  favored  somewhat  by  a  number  of 
elm  trees  and  saplings,  the  men  reached  their  horses  at  the 
edge  of  the  prairie.  In  the  retreat,  a  nnmber  of  narrow  es- 
capes and  thrilling  adventures  occurred.     Continues  Brath: 

*It  ia  vouched  for  by  his  own  men  that  at  the  report  of  his  gna.  Erath  fell,  but  im- 
mediately arose  to  his  feet.  A  rangrer  cried  "George,  are  you  hurt"?  "No  I'iah  not  hurt; 
my  arun  knocks  down  before  and  behind"! 


222  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

"At  this  juncture  my  left  had  reached  th-e  bank  of  the  gul- 
ly "we  had  just  descended  into.  There  was  a  big-  thicket  on 
the  other  side.  The  Indians  charged  ub  with  great  furty  amd 
terrific  yells.  We  could  not  be  blamed  for  seeking  shelter, 
bnt  it  extended  my  line,  and  seeing  Indians  on  my  right 
dashing  up  to  us,  McLocMin  and  myself  took  to  a  big  tree 
standing^  on  the  extreme  right.  McLochlin  presented  his 
gun,  but  it  wais  broken  and  would  not  fire.  I  had  my  gun 
loaded  and!  took  aim  at  a  bunch  of  Indians  close  by,  who 
were  maneuvering  obliquely,  but  advancing,  I  had  no  timo 
to  see  the  effect  of  my  shot,  but  ran  to  another  thicket 
with  McLocMin,  the  Indiana  getting  between  us  and  the  other 
men  and  keeping  up  their  yelling.  Fifteen  or  twenty  steps 
more,  we  reached  the  ravine  that  went  square  up  tlie  creek. 
Here  we  found  Clark  going  up  the  bed  of  it,  just  about  ex- 
hausted and  sinking.  He  said  somthing  about  fighting  to 
the  last  or  we  would  all  be  killed. 

"I  halted  a  few  moments  with  poor  Clark,  who  was  now 
down  and  his  life  faM  ebbing,  but  as  half  a  dozen  Indians 
were  rushing  towards  us,  I  continued  on  up  the  gully,  re- 
loading my  gun  as  I  went,  and  soon  rejoined  my  men." 

On  reaching  Clark,  the  Indians  yelled  and  danced 
around  in  great  glee,  butchering  up  their  unfortunate  vic- 
tim in  a  horrible  mantoer.  But  they  never  found  poor  Frank 
Childers,  who,  unable  toi  join  in  the  retreat,  had  sank  down 
at  the  foot  of  a  tree  in  a  secluded  spot,  and  expired  within 
twenty  steps  of  where  the  hottest  of  the  fight  had.been  going 
on. 

Fortunately,  the  Indians  made  no  further  attack  and 
soon  collected  at  their  camp,  where  they  set  up  a  terrible 
howl  over  their  dead.  "I  knew  they  would  soon  leave," 
continues  Erath,  "and  proposed  that  we  remain  and  look  af- 
ter our  dead,  but  I  could  not  blame  my  men  for  refusing — 
several  of  them  then  told  me  that  but  for  impeachment  for 
cowardice  and  insubordination,  they  Inever  would  have  gone 
into  the  affair." 

Erath's  reason     for  making  the  attack     against    such 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  223 

fearful  odds,  was  that  he  and  his  m^in  were  employed  to 
protect  the  citizens.  "But  for  this  eDgagemeiiit,  this  large 
body  of  Indians  woul<J  very  soon  have  b^en  in  th-e  B^ttle- 
m-ents  below,  killing,  burning  andi  stealiiig;  for  they  n€ver 
came  down  in  such  large  laumbersi  m  iho&e  days,  withjout 
d-esperate  ends  in  vi^w." 

The  rangera  now  returned  to  the  fort  and  reported. 
Era*h,  ora  the  following  morning,  Sunday,  leaving  under 
pr^vicus  orders,  for  Colejna!n's  Fort — never  again  visiting 
the  scene  of  his  hard  fought  battle.  A  burial  party  of  fif- 
teen, sent  out  under  Sergeant  McLochlin  on  the  8th,  failed 
(to  find  Childers,  audi  his  remains  were  not  discovered  till 
eight  days  lat^r. 

Summed  up,  the  casaialities  of  this  engagement,  wer« 
th«  loss  of  two  gallant  rangers,  whilo  according  to  their  owa 
adanassion,  later,  the  Indians  lost  ten  warriors  whom  they 
carried'  about  a  mile  from  the  field  and  threw  into  a 
big  hole  of  water.  There  were  several  narrow  escapes 
duriii'g;  the  action^ — some  of  tihe  men-  receiving  slight 
wounds,  and  balls  cutting  the  clothes  of  nearly  every  one. 
Sergeant  McLochlin  seems  to  have  been  a  special  mark — 
erne  ball  breaking  hds  ramTiod,  another  the  lock  of  his  gun,  a 
third'  bursting  his  powder  horn,  a  fourth  passing  thwugh 
his  ooat,  aoid  a  fifth;  through;  the  handkerchief  worn  as  a 
turfban  on  his  head. 

Tthe  nem's  of  this  engagement  with  siich  a  large  body 
of  marauding  Indians,  so  near  the  siettlementts,  caused  gener- 
al oonsftcTnation  and  alarm,  and  preparations  were  rapidly 
made  for  pursuit  by  a  combined  force  from'  the  forts,  under 
Smith.  Buit  a  very  heavy  and  severe  snow  storm  and  sleet 
set  in  on  January  9th,  delaying  and  preventing  further  op- 
«ratioins. 


KILLIKG  OF  THE  FAULKENBURYS  AND  ANDERSON- 
NARROW  ESCAPE  OF  ANGLIN. 

Members'  of  the  dispersed  Parker  Fort  Colony  were  soon 
to  suffer    further  trials  and  to  meet  sad  fates  at  the  hands  of 


•224  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Indians.  On  January  28,  1837,  Abraham  AD.gi;ii,  David  and 
Evan  Faulkenbury,  James  Hunter,  Anderson  and  Douthit 
Hefit  Fort  Housito-n  for  tbe  Trinity  bottom  in  search  of  sltray- 
-ed  h/Oga  .  Finding  some  on.  the  east  side,  they  sent  them 
•back  by  Hurat-er  and  Douthit,  who  promised  to  return  the 
iSiiext  day  and  bring  a  canoe  in  which  to  icnoss  the  river.  Be- 
coming impatient,  the  remiaining  party  improvised  a  log 
^aft,  crosisedl  over,  and  after  spending  the  forenoon  in  un- 
successful search,  returned  to  the  river  to  await  their  com- 
-pandons  witlh  the  canoe. 

We  give  the  sequel  in  Mr.  Anglin's  own  language:* 
"**To  our  surprise  we  found  plenty  of  fresh  moccasin  tracks 
•along  the  margin  of  the  river,  but  supposing  tlwrn  to  have 
1>een  made  by  friendlJy  Indians  known  to  frequent  that  vic- 
arity,  siocn  dismissed  a'ny  apprehensions  of  danger.  Being 
anuch.  fatigu-ed  and  chilled,  we  soug-ht  sheltter  from  the  wind 
"beneath  the  river  baTik  and  lay  down  to  rest,  falling  asleep. 
®lut  they  were  socm  airooised  by  the  war  whoops  and  firing 
'Of  a  party  of  about  thirty  dastardly  red  skins,  who  had  crept 
>xip  withdn  fift-een  feet  of  them,  and  opened  fire  with  rifles 
^ad  bows  and  arrows.  David  Faulkenbury  and  Anderson 
^eere  mortally  wounded,  but  both  leaped  to  their  feet,  and 
plunged  into  the  river — Faulkenbury  exclaiming,  'Come 
on  boys,  its  time  to  go,' — and  swam  across."  As  Anglin 
arose  to  his  feet,  he  received  a  gun  shot  io  the  thigh,  the 
l>all  passing  throug'h  his  porw-der  horn  lard  burying  part  of 
"^he  horn  in  his  flesh.  He  said  Evan  Faulkenbury  sought  pro- 
'tection  behind  tret  s,  and  the  Indians  behind  a  bluff.  Seeing 
'the  enemy  were  more  advantageously  posted,  ard  withi  no 
iiope  of  dislodgmg  them,  Anglin,  throwing  his  gun  in,  took 
'to  the  river.  "As  I  was  swimming,"  continues  Anglin's  nar- 
?jrative,  *'the  Indians  were  disehargirig  their  arrows,  and 
while  climbing  out  on  the  opposite  bank,  I  received  several 
'Other  slight  wounds.  Weak  and  exhaustedi,  however,  ais  I 
"Was,  I  reached  the  bank,  where  I  found  David  Faulkenbury 
"4oo  badly  wounded  to  travel.    He  told     me  to     escape     if  I 

)^ Abraham  Angrlin,  in  Groesbeck  Argus. 


WALTER    P.    LANE    RESCUES    EUCLID    M.   COX-FAGE    251 


ROBINETT   KII_I_IN<3    CHIEF    BUFFALO    HUMP— PAGE     187 


BORDSa  WARS  OP  TEXA^.  226 

couM,  and  bast^u  baok  relief.  Poor  fellow,  I  kii«w  he  would 
soon  be  gtone,  but  I  did  noft  knotw  thst  I  woidd  survive  him 
long.  Fortunately,  on  gains'  about  four  hundred  yards,  I 
met  Hunter  retuming^  with  (the  canloe,  and  mounting  behind 
him,  we  rede  as  rapidly  as  possible  for  the  fort." 

A  relief  party  was  soon  imade  up  and  started  out  that 
night.  They  found  David  Faulkenbury^— ibut  dead.  He  had 
cut  the  long  grass  near  a  pool  of  water,  and)  made  a  bed  on 
which  to  die.  Some  two  miles  from  the  sicene  of  attack,  they 
found  the  lifel^eiss'  body  of  Anderson,  with  two  arrows  stick- 
ing throng^b  his  n^eck.  He  had  run  that  dista!nce  after 
swimming  the  river,  and  fell  dead.  Evan  Fauike^bury 's 
footprints  were  traced  from  the  tree  befliind  which  he  had 
last  fought,  to  the  river  and  down  the  bank  a  short  dis- 
tance to  where  tihey  disappeared.  The  stream  was  sounded 
for  his  body,  but  it  was  not  fourjd  and  Tiothing  more  was  ev- 
er heard  of  him,  except  an  Indian  tale — that  he  fought  like 
a  «lemoin,  killing  two  of  his  a«?aailants,  woundted  a  third,  and 
when  scalped  and  almost  cloven  asunder,  jerked  away  from 
them,  threw  himself  into  the  river  and  swam  as  far  as  midr 
stri-am,  w^h-ere  hie  sank  from  view. 

Anglin  reooveredi  from  his  wounds  amd  lived  to  partici- 
pate in  other  confliota  with  the  redskins,  joriaing  a  ranger 
force  in  March  of  this  year.  He  was  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
born  Dec.  28,  1817,  and  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois in  1818 ;  thcTice,  in  1838,  with  the  Parker  family,  to  Tex- 
as. H«  long  resided  in  the  vuKjinity  of  Fort  Houston  and 
Parker's  Fort,  leading  a-n  honorable  and  usefiul  life  till  his 
death  in  1875  or  1876. 


TBAGIC  DEATH  OF  JAMES  CORYELL. 

NumeroTis  fancy  sketches — all  more  or  less  unreliable — 
of  this  noted  frontiersman  pnd  his  tragic  death,  have  been 
given  the  public  from  time  tto  time.  We  give  the  facts  as 
narrated  by  one  from  pexsoral  Irnowledgie  —  says  pioneer 
Newton  C  Duncan.: 


226  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

"James  Coryell,  for  whom  Coryell  county  was  named, 
came  to  Texas  in  1828  or  1829  from  Ohio,  coming  down 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  River  to  New  Orleans,  from 
there  to  the  mouth  of  the  Brazos  and  on  to  San  Antonio. 
He  remiained  at  San  Antonio  some  time,  and  the  next  I  knew 
of  him  h-e  had.  joined'  a  company  under  Bowie,  going  to 
hunt  the  silver  mines  at  San  Saba.  This  I  thank  was  in 
3831.  Cominig  back  from  this  trip  he  stayed  in  San  Antonio 
awh''€,  then  he  came  to  that  part  of  Robertson's  -Colony, 
near  where  the  town  of  Marlin  now  s^tands.  While  staying 
in  that  part  of  TexaiS  he  made  his  home  with  the  family  of 
Mr.  Andrew  Cavitt  (father  of  Mr.  Volney  Cavitt).  In  1835 
Mr.  Coryell  went  with  Mr.  Cavitt  and  they  located  the  land 
still  owned  by  the  Cavitts  in  Coryell  county,  also  locating 
land  for  Mr.  Coryell  on  what  is  now  Coryell  Creek. 

"After  this,  in  the  fail  of  1836,  Mr.  Coryell  joined  a  com- 
pajiy  of  soldiers  under  Capt.  Thomas  H.  Barron.  I  knew  him 
personally  at  th/at  time,  having  come  with  my  mother  from 
Tennessee  in  tbe  early  part  of  1836. 

"The  Indians  had  troubled  us  so  much  that  we  had  all 
gone  in/to  Robertson's  headquarters  at  Viesca.  While  here, 
Coryell,  with  some  companions,  had  gone  about  half  a  mile 
on  the  road  to  Perry  Springs,  on  what  is  now  Perry's  Creek, 
where  tbere  lived  a  lawyer  named  Judge  Albert  G.  Perry. 
Here  they  had  found  andi  cut  a  bee  tree  and  were  sitting 
around  eating  the  honey  andi  talking.  Mr.  Coryell  had  toM 
the  other  men  t'htat  he  could  not  run,  if  the  Indians  came, 
as  he  hJad  been  sick  and  wm  not  able  to  run.  In*  a  sbort 
time  they  beard'  a  noise  a<s  of  sticks  breaking,  when  tbey 
looked  andi  saw  twelve  Oad(dlo  Indiainis  ragbt  near  them,  too 
near  for  them  toi  try  tO'  geit  away.  ]\Ir.  Coryell  rose  to  his 
feet.  One  of  the  guns  in  the  party  wias  empty,  tone  failed 
to  fire,  and,  as  there  were  oetily  three  gunig  m  the  party,  Cory 
ell's  was  the  only  one  left.  The  men  who  had  no  guns  ran. 
Three  of  the  Indians  took  aim  at  Coryell  and  he  fired 
at  the  same  time.  Coryell  fell  grasiping  some  bushes  and 
pulling  the  tops  off  a«  he  fell.    He    w;as    scalped'    bjy  the  Inr 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  •       227 

diaiiB,  biut  it  is  thought  he  wounded  one  of  them,  as  the 
feathers  from  his  cap  were  foujid,  also  some  blood.  Mr.  Ber- 
ry, an  old  friend  of  Goryell  's,  stood  and  snapi>ed  his  gun, 
trying  to  fire,  until  he  ^law  the  Indians  pull  Coryell  down 
and  begin  to  scalp  him,  then  Berry  ran  and  escaped,  Coryell 
being  th«  only  one  lof  the  party  killed.  This  party  consist- 
ed of  James  Coryell,  Sam  Burton,  Mr.  Betrry,  Michael  Oa;s- 
tlemau,  Ezra  Webb  and'  one  other,  whose  name  I  do  not  re.- 
member. 

"Ezra  Webb  was  the  first  one  of  the  party  to  reach  the 
settlement.  Coming  to  the  house  of  Capt.  Barron,  he  found 
a  crowd  (of  ladies  gathered  awaiting  the  orders  of  Capt.  Bar- 
ron, as  they  were  exi>ecting  to  be  ordered  to  the  block-house 
for  pnotection.  When  Webb  rai\  in  with  great  haste  and 
fright,  and  breathless  from  his  run,  he  fell  on  the  bed,  past 
speaking.  The  ladies  gathered  around,  anxious  to  know  what 
had  happened'.  After  a  litAle  time  he  was  able  to  whisper 
'  Indians !    Poor  Coryell ! ' 

* 'Coryell  was  truly  a  frontiersman — an  excellent  woods- 
man, an  agreeable  companion,  a  brave  soldier,  and  an  admir- 
able gentleman — beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  was  forty  years  old.  A  short  time  before 
his  death,  while  out  on  a  scout,  he  explored  a  region  of 
country  now  known  as  Coryell  county,  and  being  a  man  of 
acute  judgment,  was  struck  with  the  beauty  and  eligibility 
of  the  country  near  the  mouth  of  Coryell  Creek.  He  there 
selected  his  head-right  of  one  quarter  of  a  league  which 
was  located  after  his  death  by  his  executor  and  thus  gave 
his  name  to  that  stream.  So  far  as  I  know  Mr.  Volney 
Cavitt  and  I  are  the  only  two  men  now  living  who  knew 
Coryell  in  1837".* 

At  this  time  Erath,  wuth  his  little  company,  had  been 
withdrawn  from  the  Little  River  fort,  and  stationed,  with 
other  forces,  at  the  Falls  of  tne  Brazos,  where  it  was  deean- 
ed  advisable  to  concentrate  all  the  rangers  in  that  section,  as 

»  Paper  read  at  Reunion  of  Old  Settlers,  Belton,  Texas.  Sept.  4, 190S. 


228  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

they  eould  be  mtore  advantagjeoualy  utilized  a/gainst  th«  num- 
ertus  bande  of  Xnidiains  th«n  con5>tanitly  raiding'  that  seotion 
of  country.  At  that  time,  however,  Capt.  Erath  and  most 
of  his  men  were  absent  on  a  scout  west  of  Little  River — all 
♦he  rangers;  b'cing  out  on  scouts — and  thus  the  Indiaois  who 
fejl  upon  Coi*>^elll  effected  thieir  retreat  without  pursuit. 


CAPTURE   OF  WARREN  LIONS.— SKIRMISH  BETWEEN 
SETTLERS  AND  INDIANS.  —  RECLAIMINQ  THE 
CAPTIVE.— TRUE  ACCOUNT  OF  THIS 
1  NOTED  EPEISODE. 

Late  m  1837,  LaJGrange,  on  the  Colorado,  was  an  out- 
post, Bastnop  being  the  only  settlement  above.  Northeast 
and  west  to  the  Guadalupe  the  country  was  still  an  unbrok- 
en'' wilderness.  Siouthwest  from  LaGrangfe,  some  sixtaeflQ 
miles,  and  near  thei  pres'ent  Hue  of  the  Sunset  railway,  livfed 
the  Lions  family  — early  emigrants  to  Austin 's  Colony  from 
New  York  State — ccnsisting  of  the  father,  motlhefr,  a  married 
dauighter  (Mrs.  Wm.  B.  Bridges)  and  four  sons  Seymour, 
George,  DeWitt  and  Warren,  a  boy  thirteen  years  old.  Some 
twent<y  miles  further  to  the  southwest,  on  the  same  road,  from 
LaGrangie  to  Texana  amid  Victoria,  ajad  ini  the  vicinity  of 
the  presetnt  toiwn  of  Hallettsville,  there  were  a  number  of  set- 
tlers near  the  Lavaca,  aanoaag  them  the  name^  of  Hallett  Fo- 
ley, Zumjwalt,  Heath,  Kent  and  Jesse  Riobim^ion — comrades  in 
anna  and  adlvefnture  of  Capt.  Heniry  S.  Brown  in  1828- '9. 

Ijn  the  summer  o^f  this  year  a  raiding  party  of  about 
thirty  Comanches,  were  discovered  ini  the  vicinity,  descend- 
ing from  the  mountains  oni  their  usual  route  toward  Victo- 
ria, their  trail  being  some  fifteen  miles  west  lof  thie  Lavaica 
settlement.  The  alarm  spread,  and  a  party  lOf  12  or  15  was 
hastily  made  up,  withooit  any  leader,  whio  struck  and  follow- 
ed the  Indians'  trail.  In  a  very  few  miles,  on  the  waters  of 
Little  Brushy,  perhaps  twenty  miles  south'w'est  of  Halletts- 
ville, and  in  am  open  foriest,  they  suxidenlyi  came  upon  the 
savages,  who  had  camped,  "staking  ooit"  siome  of  their 
ho2des  and  ''hobbling^"  otjhers.    It  waa  raindng  at  the  time, 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  229 

aud  li€JDoe  th€ir  approa<ih  was  undiscovered*  till  tlhtey  charg- 
ed with  a  view  of  stampeding  the  Indians'  horses.  Withjtheir 
lK)wie-kniiv€s  s<onDe  of  the  pmrty  cut  th-e  ropes  by  which  some 
0^  the  horses  were  stabed,  while  others  sought  to  se'cu're  the 
hobbled  animals.  But  the  Indians  outnumbering  their  assail- 
amte  two  to  on-e,  sooai  rallied)  and  charged  furiously  to  re- 
cover thenr  horses.  Against  odds,  and  in  the  absence  of  a 
leader,  confusion  ensued.  Two  or  three  Indians  were  wound- 
ed, and  Stiffier  killed.  The  whites  effected  a  retreat  with  a 
few  of  the  horses,  but  the  Indians  followed  them  in,  and  at 
Zumwalt's  recaptured  a  portion  of  the  animals  during  the 
Dight. 

While  adimiittedly  suffering  defeat,  the  settlers  at  least 
prevented  an  intended  raid  on  Victoria.  But  the  Indians, 
somewhat  emboldened,  sought  another  field  for  their  opera- 
tions. Defleetcing  to  the  northeast  and/  rapidly  covering  the 
intervening  distance  of  about  forty  miles,  they  suddenly  ap- 
peared just  after  daylight  at  the  Lions  place,  Mr.  Lions 
and  his  son  Warrem  havinig  arose  and  entered  the  cow-pen 
to  milk,  while  other  members  of  the  famib"  were  yet  in  bed. 
In  a  moment  they  billed'  and  scalped  the  faither,  made  cap- 
tive the  son,  and  gathering  up  a  numiber  of  horses  belonging 
to  Mr.  Lions,  left  for  their  mountadm  fastnesses. 

Ten  long  yetars  rolled  by  and  beyond  vague,  unreliable, 
rumors,  no  t/idimgs  were  receivtd.  of  the  lost  boy.  Relatives 
and  friendlsi  gave  him  up  and  mourned  bim  as  one  forever 
lost  to  eiviilization,  perhaps  dead — all  but  the  hoping  and 
praving  mother.  She  "dreamed  dreams"  and  had  visions  of 
her  darling  baby  child,  and  ever  believed)  he  would  come 
back  tO'  her — believinig  that  Providence,  lim  some  way  would 
restore  her  treasure. 

In  1847,  peaiding  >th'e  Mexican  war,  a  party  of  Coman- 
ches  appeiaced  art:  San  Antioiiio  on  a  tnaddng  expedition.  It 
leaked  out  tihat  among  tkem  wa*  a  young  warrior,  believed 
to  be  an  American.  Two  neao*  neighbors  of  Mrs.  Lions  hap- 
pened to  be  in  San  Antonio,  and  hearing  of  this  rumor,  deter- 
mined to  dnrvestigate  th-e  matter.    In  the  young    warwot    of 


230 1  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

twen'ty-three  the(y  found  such  a  resemblance  to  the  Lions 
bictihers  as  <to  'convince  them,  he  was  Warren  Lions.  An  in- 
terview through  an  interpreter  soon  retnioved)  all  doubt. 
Tbey  reisioilvfed,  if  po&sdible,  to  take  him  home,  but  this.requir- 
■ed  several  days  and  much  diplomacy.  Warren  well  remem- 
bered his  mx)thler,  but  believed  she  was  dead.  He  h.a;d  two 
young  wive®  and  did'  not  wish  to  leave  them.  Numerous 
presenJts  were  made  to  him,  but  still  he  remained  obdurate 
tUl  ab'out  the  third  day  when  his  oonsent  was  won  by  a 
present  lof  two  very  fin©  red  blankets) — one  for  eaich  v«dfe, 
with  which  he  adorned  them  with  th-e  pride  of  a  true  knight. 
He,  however,  onily  promised  to  visit  his'  mother,  andl  tlien  re- 
turn to  his  wives  andl  his  tribe.  With  that  understanding  he 
aceompanieid  the  gentlemen  home,  in  the  ftull  giarb  of  a  wild 
Indian. 

The  Lions  home  stood  just  a&  he  had  left  it,  a  double 
log  house,  on  a  prairie  nidge,  and  visible  from  the  west  two 
or  three  miles.  Warren  recognized  it.  When  abooit  two 
hundred  yaird®  from  the  house,  the  unsuspeeting  old  mother 
stepped  out  in  the  yard  in  plain  view  of  the  approaching 
party.  Her  long  hair,  originally  of  flaxeni  color,  had  only  as- 
sumed! a  whiter  hue.  Warren  instantly  recognized  her  and 
dasthed'  forward,  uttering  the  wild  mian's  "wadi  lof  joy."* 
Abruptly  liialting  and  dismounting,  he  sprang  imto  the  yard, 
weepiiLg,  wailing  and  gyrating  in  a  manner  so  weird  as  to  un- 
nerve the  dear  old  mother,  till  the  two  neighbors  shrieked 
to  her:  ''lit  is'  Warren,  yotur  lost  boy!"  Then  she  shouted 
praise  to  God,  and'  sought  to  encdrcle  Warren  in  her  arms, 
whiie  he  expressed  his  delight  in  Indian  st^ie,  invoLving  dan- 
icieg,  gesticulations  land  those  guttural  indications  of  j»y  pe- 
ouliar  toi  tthei  wild  tribes. 

Warreni  was  resolved  to  fulfill  his  promise  and  return  to 

♦"When  he  came  near  the  lot  where  his  father  was  killed,"  says  Wilbarger,  "he  point- 
ed it  out  and  said:  'Oar  me  fadder  kill— dar  me  take  off,'  and  as  soon  as  he  saw  his  mother 
he  cried  out:  'Oar  me  mudder!  Dar  me  mudder!!'  Thus  showing:  that  through  the  long 
years  of  his  wild,  nomadic  life— in  the  chase  and  on  the  warpath— the  tragic  scenes  of  that 
morning  ten  years  agone  were  vividly  remembered,  and  that  the  mother's  features  had 
1}een  indelibly  impressed  on  the  mind  ef  the  youthful  captive." 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  231 

ibis  wives,  but  the  wbole  country  round  joined  in  schemes 
to  detain  hiiin,  bnit  all  to  n»Oi  avail  till  his  brother,  DeWitt,  in- 
dlucedi  him  to  accompany  him  land  join  a  company  o(f  ran- 
gers in  Southwest  Texias,  to  fighlt  the  Mexicans.  To  this  h^e 
assented,  and  this  service  gradually  weaned  him  from  his 
Indiaii  habiits,  and  reconciled  ham  to  civilization,  ending  in 
his  marriage  and  domestic  life ;  not,  however,  till  he  hadj  par- 
ticipated in  iScvenal  engagement®  with  the  Indians,  in  which, 
like  his  brothers,  he  developed  the  characteristic's  of  a  coura- 
geous^ soldier. 


INDIANS  AMBUSH  THREE   SETTLERS. 

Some  negroes  belonging  to  Mr.  Beesan,  of  Columbus,  on 
the  Colorado,  having  run  away  from  him,  his  two  sons,  Col- 
lins and'  Leander  Beesan,  accompanied  by  a  Sco'tchman 
named  Steele,  went  in  pursuit,  in  the  summer  of 
1837,  hoping  to  intercept  them  before  they  made  their  wacr 
to  Mexico.  The  three  young  men  traveled  along  the  San 
Antonio  road',  without  raishap,untal  they  crossed  the  Guada- 
lupe River  &it  Gonzales.  As  they  ascended  the  bank  of 
that  stream  on  the  western  side,  they  rode  into  an  Indian 
ambuscade,  and  were  received  with  a  rifle  volley  that  killed 
Collins  Beesan,  crippled  and  disabled  Steele  and  shot  Lean- 
der Beesan 's  horse  from  oind^r  him. 

Leander  Beesan  ran  to  the  river,  threw  his  gun  as  far 
out  into  it  as  he  could,  and  swam  back  to  the  other  side, 
with  bullets  whistling  about  his  ears  and  ricochetting  un- 
comfortably near  him.  As  he  buffeted  the  current  he  heard 
some  one  swimming  behindl  him,  but  did  not  turn  to  see  who 
it  was,  either  while  crossing  or  after  he  reached  dry  ground. 
As  he  ran  from  the  border  of  the  river  into  the  timber,  he 
heard  a  groan,  whieh  led  him  ito  surmise  that  the  person 
who  had  followed  in  his  wake  across  the  river  was  Steele. 
Finding  that  his  heavy,  water-soaked  boots  impeded  his  pro- 
gress, Beesan  divested  himself  of  them,  and  made  his  way 
home — arriving  there  some  days  later  in  a  pitiable  condition. 

A  company  of  ten  men,  including  W.   B.   Dewees,   wias 


2321  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

immediaitely  assemMed  and  kaving'  their  families  almost  en- 
tirely ■unprotected,  started!  for  the  Guadalupe.  A  gemtlemani 
wiho  had'  just  lefit  the  army  and  who  was  at  Mr.  Dewee's 
house  siek,  loaned!  themi  a  spy  glaiss. 

When  the  party  was  within  fifteen  miles  of  Gonzales 
they  saw,  witht  the  nakedl  eye,  a  large  nura^ber  of  horse®  at 
a  distance  through  the  timber.  Dismounting  and  bring- 
ing the  spy  glass  into  requisitdon,  they  discovered  thialt 
Indians  were  astride  the  horaes,  and'  were  apparently  awadt- 
ing  the;  approach  of  the  whites. 

After  a  brtief  eonsailtatiion,  it  was  decided'  to-  attaick  the 
redskins.  Slightly  deflecting  their  course  and  concealed 
by  timber  and  a  hill,  Dewees  and  his  companions 
emerged  into  the  open  from  an  unexpected  quarter 
and  charged  the  Indians,  taking  them  completely  by 
surprise,  routing  them,  and  sending  them  scurrying  as 
fast  as  their  mustangs  could  be  made  to  travel.  The 
Indian  loss  is  not  stated  by  Dewees.*  The  pursuit 
was  kept  up  for  a  short  while.  On  arriving  at  the 
rivett"  the  rescue  party  found  and  buriedJ  the  body  of  Colldns 
Beesan,  but  isaw  nothing  of  Steele.  It  was  afterwards 
learned  that  the  head  of  Steele  wias  seen  in  the  camp  of  th© 
Indians,  about  tliiree  quarters^  of  a  mile  above  Gon^ialeis. 


THE  "STONE  HOUSE"  FIGHT. 

October  7,  1837,  Capt.  Eastland,  then  in  command  of 
Coleman's  Port,  depairted  from  that  station  with,  all,  or  the 
greater  portion,  of  his  force,  and  made  a  reconnaissance  up 
the  Oolonado  river  to  the  mouth  of  Pecan  bayou,  and'  up 
that  stream'  to  its  source.  He  desired  the  entire  command 
to  return  to  the  fort;  but  a  party  under  Lieuts.  Benthuysen 
and  Miles  (in'  all  eighteen  men)  either  disoibeyed  his  orders/ 
or  secured  permission  fromi  him,  and!  kept  on  farther  west  to 
th€  vicimty  of  the  rock  mound,  called  the  "stone  lKyu®e," 
near    Caddo  Peak,  in  what  is  now     Callahan     county,     and 

1^Avtbot  of  Dcweec'  Letters. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  233 

had  a  d-esperate  and  disastrous  battle  witb  a  forc€  of  one 
tundred  or  more  Indians  (Wacos,  Oaddos,  and  Ke€€haes)( 
teaa*  t(he  latter  land  mark,  wbile  a  body  of  Dclawares  look- 
ed on,  from'  a  ddstianxie,  asi  passive  spectators. 

Noah  Smithwick  says  that  a  large  Indian  encampment, 
occupd^d  by  th^  membeirs  -of  sevetrai  tribes',  includfing  Bom« 
Delaware*,  was  found!  at  the  "stone  housie."  While  at  that 
point  one  of  the  ranigers,  Ffelix  Mcdusky,  gave  dhase  to  and 
killed  a  lone  M'diian,  stoalpedi  him,  and  rifled  his  pockets, 
though)  the  Delawares  tried  to  prevent  him.  His  fellow  rang- 
ers upblraidiing-  him  for  thie  deed,  hie  exhibited  a  chunk  of 
tobaeco  that  hte  had  tabeni  from  his  vdctim'g  pocke-t,  and  de- 
clared that  he  *' would  kill  any  Injun  for  that  much  tobac- 
co." 

Th€  Delawares  warned:  the  whites  that  Indians  of  thie 
murdered  man's  tribe  and  others  in  alliance  with  them, 
would  avenge  the  atrocious  crim«e. 

When  the  rangiersi  oame  in  sight  of  Caddfo  Peak,  they 
were  suddenly  confronted  by  the  avengers,  wh©  demanded 
the  surriender  of  ]McClu'Sik'e>%*  which  was  refused.  H^e  pos- 
seeised  no  atom  of  that  spirit  of  self-sacrifice,  that  has:  sonne- 
timies  led  m'en  to  accept  death  in  ord'er  to  save  the  lives  of 
others.  There  was  nothinigi  to  dt)  but  fight.  The  whites 
took  position  in  a  ravine  and  the  Indians  in  a  grove,  and  the 
battle  opened,  sans  ceremonie,  and  raged  with  great  fury 
and  deadly  effect  for  an  hour  and  a  half.  The  men  of  both 
sides  were  armed  with  rifles,  were  expert  marksmen,  and 
tried  to  waste  as  little  time  and  ammunition  as  possible.  Four 
of  the  rangers  were  killed,  and  it  is  believed,  a  large  num- 
ber O'f  the  Indians,  before  the  scales  of  victory;  were  depress- 
ed iai)  favor  of  the  savage  wariiors  by  a  stratagem  thiey 
ado(pted.  They  set  fire  to  tlie  tall,  dry  grass  that  covered 
the  prairie  and  that  extended  into  the  ravine.  The  wind 
■was  blowing  in  the  direetioni  of  the  white  men,  and  the 
flaanes  raced  toward  thean,  pcrecedted  by  a  dense  and  blind- 

»8orv<T«d  the  encacement.  but  was  af  UrwardB  killed  ia  a  irunkea  tra«L 


234  '         RORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

^ng  voluni'e  of  smoke.  The  rangers  glanced  in  one  direction 
for  a  route  by  wliicli  to  ©scape,  bu't  saw  the  Delawiares  sit- 
ting there,  a^ppareoitly  for  thte  purpose  of  cuttinig  off  their 
retreat.  Lieuts.  Benthuysen  and  Miles  then  'Ordered  thjeir 
inen  to  follow  themi  in  the  Oipposite  direction  down  the  rav- 
ine, and,  eanerging  from  the  depires'sion,  shot  and  cut  their 
way  ctliiTouigh  the  encompasising  Indian  line,  and  fought  to 
ithe  timber,  a  distance  of  aboiit  eighty  yards.  While  this  move 
mentt  was  being  executed,  eight  white  men  were  killed, 
Lieut.  Milies  amiong  the  number.*  The  six  .survivors,  some  olf 
>them  severely  wounded,  were  not  pursued  through'  the 
woods,  and  miade  their  way  to  the  site  of  the  present  city  of 
Dallas,  where  they  found  a  large  encampnuent  of  Kickapoo 
slndians,  who  treated  them  kindly  and  allowed'  them  to  re- 
turn to  the  settlements. 


MURDER  OF  THE  KELLOUGH  FAMILIES  IN  EAST 
1  TEXAS. 

In  1837  the  Indians  became  so  h'ostile  in  the  territOiry 
DOW  constituting  Cherokee  county,  that  the  settlers  moved 
(to  Naicogdoehes.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  a  number  of  white 
iamdlieis  went  back  tO'  their  former  homes.  On  the  way  tihey 
were  met  by  an  old  and  friendly  Indian  who  told  them  that 
Ithe  region  to  which  they  were  jouiuieying  was  filled  with 
hostile  Indians,  and  urged  them  to  retrace  tlieir  steps  to 
.J^acogdioches.      They    disregarded  his   advice.     They  found 

*  Much  controversy,  and  a  diversity  of  opinions,  has  existed  as  to  who  was  the  real 
captor  of  Santa  Anna.  Without  attempt  to  disparage  the  names  and  fame  of  others,  we 
-.subjoin  the  following  "Obituary  Notice  of  Lieut.  A.  H.  Miles"  — printed  in  the  Telegraph 
.-of  issue  Saturday,  Dec.  16,  1837;  and  which  has  passed  without  repiy  or  direct  attempt  to 
•dispute  ever  since: 

"Killed  in  an  engagement  with  the  Indians,  Lieut.  A.  H.  Miles,  formerly  of  the  city 
of  Richmond,  Va.  This  young  man,  at  the  first  call  for  volunteers,  gallantly  came  forward 
to  assist  the  sinking  and  apparently  desperate  cause  of  Texas.  He  was  at  the  battle  of  San 
Jacinto,  and  was  the  real  capturer  of  Santa  Anna.  His  modesty  while  living  induced  him 
(together  with  the  fact  that  he  believed  he  had  only  done  his  duty)  silently  to  see  others 
reap  the  honor  of  the  capture.  He  had,  however,  in  his  possession  certificates  of  the  late 
Secretary  cf  War,  and  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  of  the  above  facts.  He  left  to  mourn 
fSiis  loss  an  affectionate  mother  and  sister,  together  with  a  numerous  circle  of  friends  and 
/acquaintances.  They,  however,  will  find  consolation  by  knowing  that  he  died  struggling 
jfor  the  weal  of  his  adopted  country.— S." 


BORDER  WARS  OF, TEXAS.  235 

their  fences  bumed,  most  of  their  stock  driven  off,  and 
their  crops  greatly  damaged.  Hhey  ako  saw  many  Indians 
roving  about,  but  took  them  to  be  Obeirokees  and  members 
of  the  bamdisi  associated  wdth  that  tribe,  all  of  whom  profess- 
ed to  be  friendly.  The  wbite  people  determined  to  stay 
long  enioughj  to  gatiher  what  remiained  of  their  crops.  One 
day  while  busily  engaged  in  this  work,  they  were  attacked 
by  a  large  foirce  of  Indians,  with  whom  there  were  a  ferw 
Mexicans.  The  male  members  of  the  Wood,  Kellough  and 
other  families  were  murdered,  and  womien  and  childtem 
made  prisoners.  Nothinig  was  ever  after  heard  of  the 
captives,  save  vague  rumors  regairddng  a  little  ision  of  Mrs. 
Wood.  It  was  said  that  the  ehild  became  an  Indian  war- 
rior and  chief  of  the  tribe  into  which  he  was  adopted, 
but    this  is  only  vague  tradition. 

There  were  two  Kellouigh  families.  The  first  family,  con- 
sisting of  Allen  Kellough,  wife  and  five  children,  were  all 
killed.  Old  man  Keliougb,  wife,  and  two  sons,  comprised 
thie  otber.  The  old  man  and  his  sioinis  were  slaughtered.  His 
aged  wife  ran  into  the  yard,  and  told  the  Indians  to  kiU 
her.  They  refused.  Mexicans,  who  were  with  them,  cursed 
her  and  told  her  to  go  back  into  the  house,  which  she  fin- 
ally did.  There  were  two  other  ladies  in  the  house.  Nei- 
ther she  nor  they  were  molested.  Neither  were  two  other  fam- 
ilies. The  miserable  survivors  of  the  massacre,  left  every- 
thing behinid  them  and  fled  firom  the  aecrursied  spot  to  Nac- 
ogdoches. En  route  they  were  joined  by  a  band  oif  Chlero- 
kees  who  accompanied  them  into  the  town,  ostensibty  as 
an  escort.  The  Cherokees  vehemently  denied  that  they  or 
Indians  associated  with  them  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
miassacre;  but  evidence  was  adduiced'  that  satisfied  many 
miuds  that  they  and  their  confederates  perpetrated  the  mur- 
ders. 

John  Henry  Brown  says  that  the  butchery  "led  to 
the  battle  of  Kickapoo,  and  was  one  of  the  impelling  caus- 
es that  led  to  the  expulsion  of  the  Cherokees  and  associate 
bands  from  the  country." 


236  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAB. 

KILLING  OF  8XTTLZB  McGULLOM  AND  CAPT.  ROGERS 
^-ADVENTURE  OF  THE  HORNSBYS. 

In  Novem'ber,  1837,  Capt.  lyieCullom,  who  had  recently 
come  to  T€xas  from  Alaibama,  and  w'hio  was  stoppirig  at  the 
home  of  Oapt.  Jtames  Rogers,  in  Bastrop  county,*  went  wdth 
a  son  'Of  Capt.  Rog'ere  to  a  cre^k  for  the  ,pur,pos€  of  build- 
ing a  wolf  pen,  or  trap.  While  they  were  euttin-g  the  n^ee- 
essary  timber,  McCnllom  was  fired  on  by  Indians,  who  were 
attracted  to  the  spot  by  the  sound  of  the  axes.  He  callled 
to  Rogers,  telling  him  to  make  for  the  house,  and  then  ran 
in  that  direction  himself,  forgftting  to  take  his  gun,  w*hich 
he  left  standdng  by  a  tree.  The  two  men  speeded  down  a 
new  cut  road)  leading  to  Wilbarger  Creek,  and  crossed 
ahead  of  their  pursuers;  but  as  McCullom  mounted  the 
farther  bank,  he  was  shot  in  the  back  and)  instaaajtly 
killed.  Young  Rogers  kep<l'  on,  passed  below  the  ridge, 
plunged  into  the  undergrowth,  and  eiscaped. 

Subsequent  to  the  foregoing  incident,  Oapt.  Rogers, 
Craft  audi  a  man  whose  najme  is  not  remembered,  went  to 
Coleman's  Port  to  .pirocure  ammunition  for  settlers  on  the 
Colorado  River.  While  they  were  crossing  the  open  prairie 
in  Hornsby's  bend,  on  their  way  home,  they  were  chased 
by  two  parties  of  Indiams — one  riding  toward  thenu  from 
the  rear  and  the  other  from  the  ri;ght.  Craft  and  the 
stranger,  who  were  well  mounted,  escaped;  but  Rogers,  who 
had!  an)  inferior  horse  was  overtaken,  killed  and  scalped. 
The  Indians  proceeded  to  the  residence  of  Reuben  Hornsby. 
He  was  at  work  on  the  farm.  They  attempted'  to  cut  hfim 
off  from  the  house ;  but  fortunately  his  S'on  saw  them,  and 
reached  him  on  a  fleet  horse  in  time  foir  both  of  themi  to 
escape  to  the  house,  where  they  barred  the  doors,  present- 
ed their  rifles,  and  bluffed  the  Indians.  The  redskins  were 
not  in  a  mood  to  come  to  close  quarters  and  rode  off,  after 
yelling,  circling  about  the  place,  and  making  daring  dem- 
onstrations. 

#  Father  «f  £d.  »nd  J.  B.  Rcsera  of  Trari*  county. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  237 

When  young  Hornsiby  left  the  dwelliaLg  to  take  the  harae 
to  his  father,  Mrs.  Hornshy  and  children  who  were  with 
her,  ran  to  the  river  bottom  and  conceailed  themselves. 
They  remained  there  until  after  the  departure  of  tiie  In- 
dians and  then  returned  to  the  habitation,  endeared  to  her 
by  so  m'any  sorrowful  and!  happy  associations. 


POST  OAK  SPRINGS  BIASSACBE. 

From  several  sources — all  reliable,  but  conflicting'  as  to 
date  etc. — we  gathei;  meagre  details  of  a  horribde  affair, 
which  oocured,  persumably  in  May  of  this  year,  at  a  place 
then  known  ais  Post  Oak  Springs,  now  called  Ad  Hall,  in 
Milam  county. 

Preparatory  to  withdrawing  the  small  ranger  force 
from  Little  River  Fort,  Lieutenant  Erath  it  appears  had  sent 
five  of  hiss  men,  Dave  Farmer,  Aaron  Collins,  Clabe  Nedi, 
Steirett  Smith  and  Jesse  Bailey,  to  Nasftiville  for  wagona 
and  tealnis  with  wihich  to  move  household  effects  etc.,  of  the 
two  or  three  famlHes  residing  at  the  fort. 

On  their  Tetuimi  trip  wtith  the  wagons  and  teams ;  and 
just  as  they  approached  an  island  or  grove  of  post-oaks  in 
the  prairie,  they  were  ambushed  by  a  party  of  CJomanche 
Indians*  and  all  killed. 

Over  due  to  return,  a  scout  was  dispatched!  and  soon 
came  upon  the  horrible  scene.  AH  the  eviidenicies  off  a  desper- 
ate fight  were  apparent.  The  bodies  of  Collins  and  Smith, 
says  Sowell,**  were  found  in  one  of  the  wagons,  and  the  oth- 
er three  were  scattered  on  the  prairie  between  the  wagons 
and  mott  of  timber.  Thie  particulars  of  this  struggle  cannot 
be  given  as  none  were  left  of  the  white  men  to  tell  the  tale. 
"But  it  is  likely,"  continues  Sowell,  "the  Indians  discover- 
ed  them  some  distance  off  and  hid  their  forces  in  or  behind 
the  mott,  and  when  they  charged  out  and  cut  the  rangers  off 

♦Newton  C.  Duncan's  paper  read  at  Old  Sattlera  Reunion.  Belton.  Texaa.  1903. 

»»A.  J.  Sowell-on    authority  ot  Jsmoa  A.  Boales-in  "Texaa  Indian  Fi«htera". 
P.  229. 


238  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

from  this  positiom,  theyi  had  made  a  desperate  effort  to  fight 
their  way  through  the  Indians  to  it.  It  is  likely  al&o  that 
there  was  some  confusion  and  there  was  no  concert  of  ac- 
tion, as  the  scattered  poeition  of  their  bodies  would  show. 
The  Indians  secured  all  the  teams,  guns,  pistols  etc.,  and'  re- 
treated." 


GEN.  JKO.  B.  HOOD'S  BRILLLAlTr  VICTORY. 

One  of  the  most  severe  engagements  of  this  year 
was  Lieutentant,  afterward  the  famous  Confederate  General, 
John  B.  Hood's  fight  with  a  party  of  Comanches  and  Lipans 
near  the  head  of  Devil 's  River,  Texas.  On  the  5th  of  July, 
the  gallant  young  Lieutentant  in  command  of  twenty-five 
men  of  company  G,  2nd  Cavalry,  left  Fort  Mason  on  a  scout 
against  depredating  Indians.  Provided  with  thirty  days  ra- 
tions, an  Indian,  guide  and  a  compass,  and  actuated  by  youth- 
ful aspiration,  the  little  party  scoured  the  country  to  the 
head  of  the  Ctoncho. 

Near  the  mouth  of  Kiowa  Creek  a  trail  was  discovered 
and  rapidly  followed  to  a  water  hole  near  the  head  of 
Devil's  River.  From  here  he  hurried  on,  though  his  horses 
were  very  much  worried,  and  traveled  over  the  bluffs  and 
mountains  down  the  river,  but  keeping  some  three  miles  from 
it.  Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  20th  of  July  he  left  th« 
trail,  and  went  in  towards  the  river  to  get  water,  as  his  men 
were  very  thirsty.  About  a  mi]c  from  the  trail,  aaid  some  two 
and  a  half  miles  fromi  his  party,  on  a  ridge  he  discovered 
some  horses  and  a  large  flag  waving.  The  orders  in  Tectas 
at  that  time  were  to  attack  any  Indians  found  away  from 
the  government  reservation,  hut  of  course  to  respect  a  white 
flag.  Without  going  to  water,  and  leaving  eight  of  his  com- 
pany with  the  pack  mules  and  supplies,  Lieutentant  Hood, 
with  seventeen  of  his  men  rode  towards  the  flag.  Halting 
near  the  Indians,  Hood  signeled  them  that  he  was  ready  to 
fight  or  talk.  As  Hood's  men  advanced  five  of  the  Indians 
came  forward  with  the  flag,  but  when  within    about    thirty 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  239* 

paces  the  treacheroiis  foe  suddenly  tbrew  down  the  flag  and 
setting'  fire  to  a  Ibt  of  rubbish  they  had  coUectedi  commenced 
a  desperate  attacik,  a/t  the  sam^  moimenit  about  thirty  war- 
riors arose  from  among  the  tall  grass  and  "Spanish  leaga- 
nets,"  within;  ten  paces  of  the  soldiers.  TSvelve  had  rifles, 
the  rest  bows  and  arrows;  btesides  whieb  8  olr  10,  mounted 
on  horse  back,  attacked  with  lances.  Hood's  men  went  at 
them  with  a  yell — thus  the  struggle  commenced  and  con- 
tinued in  a  most  desperate  and  determined)  hand  to  hand 
struggle,  with  the  odds  in  favor  of  the  Indians.  Hood's  little 
force  wavered  and  feld  back,  but  were  soon  rallied)  by  their 
brave  young  leader,  and  making  a  most  desperate  andi  dash- 
ing charge  with  their  revolvers,  the  Indians  gave  way — thus 
the  fight  continued  till  dark  when  the  Indiaaas  gave  up  the 
contest  and  gathering  up  their  dead  and  wounded  moved  off 
toward  the  Rio  Grande — ^much  to  the  relief  of  the  soldiers 
who  had  exhausted  about  their  last  round  of  ammunition.  This 
was  a  most  serious  affair  in  which  twO'  of  the  scooiting  party 
■were  killed  and  several  wounded,  among  them  Lieutenant 
Hood,  wko'  had  his  handl  pinned  to  his  bridle  with  an  arrow^ 
It  wais  afterwards  learned  that  the  Indians  lost  nineteen  war- 
riors killed  on  the  field  and  fatally  wounded.  Hood)  made  his 
way  to  Camp  Hudson,  where  he  obtained  supplies'  and  med- 
ical aid  for  his'  wounded' — ^then  returned  to'  Forrt  Mason. 
General  Twiggs,  commanding  the  department,  complimentedi: 
this  brave  little  company  on  their  exploit,  saying  in  his  official 
report:  ** Lieutenant  Hood's  affair  was  a  gallant  one,  and 
much  credit  is  due  to  both  officer  and!  men." 

This  gave  Hood'  muchj  eclat  as  a  brave  soldier  andi  es- 
tablished' his  reputation  for  gallantry. 

Soon  after  his  return  from  itbis  fight  he  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenanit  and  stationed  at  Camp  Color- 
ado. In-  1858  he  established  Oamp  Wood,  tm  the  Nueces 
riveir,  at  which  post  he  remained  till  1860  when  he  wasi  call- 
ed to  Washington)  and  commissioned  as  chief  of  Cavalry  at 
West  Point — ^a  position  he  filled  till  the  breaking  out  of  th^e- 
Civiil  War. 


240  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

During  thia  year  there  was  a  severe  encounter  with.  In- 
dians on  Maine's  Prairie,  Anderson  county,  the  particulars 
of  which  are  not  at  hand.  Also,  Nunley,  Stifflen  and 
Smothers  were  killed  in  Lavaca  county,  and  a  Mr.  Davis  was 
killed  sixteen    miles  east  of    Gonzales,  by  Indians. 

The  blood  of  brave  men  shed  upon  the  soil  of  Texas 
during  this  year  was  alone  enough  to  render  it  holy  ground, 
and  the  sufferings  that  the  women  and  children  experienced 
were  sufficient  to  consecrate  the  land  to  high  ideals.  But 
the  year  stands  not  alone  in  these  particulars.  Grouped  with 
it  are  others.  United  they  call  to  the  Texans  of  today  and 
of  the  future.  "Guard  well  the  noble  heritage  that  you  en- 
joy and  that  cost  such  a  price." 


CHAPTER  XI. 


HE  year  of  1838  'Opened  well  for  Texas.  A 
heavy  and  desirable  -emigration  that  be- 
gan in  the  latter  part  of  1837,  continued, 
whik  land  values  and  taxable  wealth  in- 
creased steadily.  New  towns,  farms  and 
ranches  were  established,  and  settlements 
pushed  westward — along  Red  River  to  Fan- 
nin and  Grayson  c<)unties. 

Galveston  had  taken  on  new  life  througii 
the  efforts  of  Colonel  Menard,  and  oth- 
ers, and  grew  rapidly  to  a  town  of  importance,  be- 
ing adorned  by  handsome  buildings,  and  having  in  ita 
harbor  frequently  as  many  as  fifteen  or  twenty  ships  and 
vessels  at  a  time.  Houston,  the  seat  o-f  government,  also  in- 
creased in  popuiationj  and  wealth  and  became  a  commercial 
depot — communication  being  maintadnied  between  the  two 
towns  by  a  lime  of  four  steamboats.  Let  the  reader  remem- 
ber those  were  days  of  small  things  and  sparse  population. 


PROGRESS  AND  PROSPERITY— TREATIES   WITH   THE 
INDIAN  TRIBES. 

The  French  blockade  of  the  coast  of  Mexico  and  polit- 
ical convulsicnis  in  that  country,  prevented  invasion  of  Tex- 
as in  force,  and  left  the  seas  open  for  development  of  Texas 
commerce,  which  expanded  until  it  included  trade  with  Eng- 
l:md,  France,  and  other  foreign  countries. 

President  Houston  by  his  rigid  rules  of  economy,  if  not 
replenishing  the   empty  exchequer,     was     at  least  restoring 


242  ,       BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

eonfid«inc€  m  -the  credit  off  the  rising  young  Republic.  The 
couatry  haJd  been  blessed  with  prolific  crop  yields  the  pre^ 
TiouB  y'car.  Thus  the  people  wene  prosperous,  and  might 
h&ve  been  entirely  hapj)y,  btut  for  the  redoubled  continutatiooi 
of  Indian  hoistilitieis,  which  "lit  up  the  wlh'ole  frontier  with 
the  fliaanes  of  a  slava^e  war." 

The  General  Land  Office  of  tbe  Republic  of  Texas,  ac- 
cording to  previous  enaictment,  was  opened!  January  4th  of 
this  year,  and  was  immediately  followedi  by  land  cladmants, 
with  surveying  parties,  invading  Indian  territory,  and  bat- 
tles with,  anid'  fierce  and)  sanguinary  reprisals  on  the  part 
of,  the  Indians.  Yoakum  attributes  the  immediate  cause  of 
increased  hostilitiets  to  tho  opening  of  the  land  office. 
"Surveyors  and  locators,  desiring  to  selejct  the  best  landis, 
had  gone  out  beyond  the  seittlements,  and  begun  their  oper- 
ations. The  Indians,  seeing  them  at  work,  were  not  sloiw 
to  believe  what  the  Mexaeans  had  told  them — that  the  white 
people  wouldi  take  all  tlhedr  hunting  grounds,  and  drive  th.em 
off.  Their  attacks  u^pOn  the  frontiers'  wone  in  resdstance  otf 
thisi  movement."* 

Prefiident  Honsiton's  Indian  policy  wae  continned,  and 
tested  to  the  utmost. 

January  18,  1838,  a  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Livie 
Oak  Point,  by  James  Power,  acting  for  the  government  of 
Texas,  and  Culegasde  Castro,  cbief  of  tiie  tribe,  represenit- 
ang  the  Lipans.  It  was  stipulated  that  the  Indians  were  *o 
be  given  $250.00  worth  of  presents;  that  trading  houses  were 
to  be  esitabli&hed  among  .them ;  and  that  neither  Indians  nor 
white  people  were  to  take  redress  of  grievances  into  their 
own  hands. 

Emanating  from  the  War  Department,  a  little  later,  we 
find  the   following  conciliatory  order: 

Houston,  Feb.  4,  1838. 
To  Gen.  A.  Sidney  Johnston,  Col.  Lysander  Wells. 

Gentlemen:     By  order  of  His  Excelleney,  the  President, 


If  History  of  Texas,  Vol.  2.  P.  248. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  243 

yon  «re  h^r^by  -eonpoweried  as  commissioners  to  me^/t  and  hold 
•coiifeTeai'ce  with  the  Comanche  Indians. 

You  are  to  meet  them  so  soon  as  practieable,  ai^nire 
theon  of  our  friendly  feelinigs  toward  them,  aartd  of  ooir  eax- 
Dest  d-esire  to  cultivaite  with  them  a  trade  for  our  mutual  ad- 
Tantage,  anidi  to  this  endi,  trading  houses  shall  be  esstablished 
for  their  conveniienioe,  by  whieh  means  they  will  find  a  mar- 
ket for  their  mules,  buffalo  robes,  etc.  Invite  seven  or 
eig!ht  of  their  chdefs  to  visit  the  Exeeutive  and  both  houBes 
oi  Ctongress  zi  the  next  session,  say  abbut  the  21«t  of  April 
next.  Also  have  an  understandicig  with  thiem  that  they  ar-e 
at  all  times  to  co-operate  with  us  agadn&t  our  enemies. 

We  rely  upon  your  good  judgment  and  disicretion  in 
saying  to  them  all  which  shali  be  necessary  to  eonviniee 
them  of  our  friendship  to  them.  Assure  them  also  that  the 
President  has  now  gene  to  Na-eogdoehes  to  enter  into  an  ar- 
rangement with  the  Cherokeies.  Barnard  E.  Bee. 

Ck)l.  Henry  W.  Karnes  was  appointed  as  a  colleague  of 
Johnston  and  Wells,  tO'  assist  in  the  mission.  His  letter  of 
infetructions,  under  date  oif  April  12,  1838,  suggests  that  be 
must  use  great  cauticn  in  discussinig  the  question  of  terri- 
tory limits  with  this  tribe — ''That  you  must  manage  in  this 
way.  You  must  say  to  them  that  they  will  continue  to 
hunt  where  they  have  game,  and  if  they  find  our  people  in 
their  huntuig  grounds  with  the  passwords,  to  treat  thejn 
kindly,  as  our  people  will  do  should  the  Comanches  come  in- 
to our  settlements." 

"After  a  delay  of  some  two  months,  a  band  of  about  150 
Comanches,  led  by  twk)'  chiefs,  Essowakkenny  and  Essoman- 
ny,"  says  Gen.  Johnston's  biographer,  "came  in  to  hold  the 
'talk.'  The  chiefs  were  about  twenty-seven  or  twenty-eight 
years  old,  and  about  five  feet  eiglht  in  height;  Essomanny 
was  rather  a  bull-headed  fellov/,  with  a  firm  and  sensible  ex- 
pression; Essowakkenny  had  a  more  intelligent  countenance." 

It  (had  been  the  immemorial  custom  of  the  Comanches, 
after  plundering  the  country,  to  ride  at  their  leisure  into  San 
Antonio  to  trade,  or  for  ransom.  On  such  occasions,  to  relieve 


244  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

themselves  from  the  care  of  their  horses,  these  fierce  war- 
riors condestcendiiagly  committed  their  cabaliado  to  the  cus- 
tody of  the  commandant,  from  whom  they  required  a  scrupu- 
lous return  of  their  chattels  when  they  should  be  ready  to 
leave.  On  this  occasion,  Essovralckeniiy,  on  meeting  General 
Johnston,  waved  his  hand  with  a  lordly  gesture  tow^ard®  his 
horses,  saying:  "There  is  <mr  caballado.  llake  care  of  it." 
"Yes,"  replied  Greneral  Johnston,  looking  at  him  steaddly, 
"I  see  youfr  caballado.  You  ride  good  ponies.  I  advise  you. 
to  watch  them  well.  All  white  men  are  not  honest.  I  take 
good  care  of  my  horses.  Take  care  of  yours."  By  which, 
the  General  meant  to  teach  the  Comanches  that  he  was  not 
"a  Mexican  hostler  in  uniform."  The  chief  understood  the 
irony,  and  that  he  had'  to  deal  with  a  warrior ;  he  smiled 
grimly,  'and  dictailed  some  of  his  own  men  to  watch  the  graz- 
ing herdv 

A  **ibig  talk"  was  held,  in  which  the  advantage®  of  a 
peacie  truce  were  freely  discussed,  and  with  reciprocal  as- 
surances of  la  desiire  for  such.  In  the  coursie  of  his  "taLk" 
General  Johnston  siujgges'ted,  that  i£  so  desired,  trading  posts 
wonld  be  established  among  them.  Essof\\'akIkennj  rosie,  and 
saidi  "that  the  Comanches  had  noticed  that  trading  posts  al- 
ways seemed  to  frighten  the  buffalo  away,  so  that  they  did 
not  want  any  in  their  country;  buit  they  did  not  object  to  a 
line  of  posts  along  the  border  of  their  country" — drawing  an 
imaginary  line  wdth  his  hand,  so  \as  to  indicate  a  distance  of 
about  tliiree  miles  from  San  Antonio.  Not  caring  to  discuss 
the  delicate  soibject  of  the  boundary  further,  General  John- 
ston, without  alluding  to  the  trading  posts  again,  dilated 
upon  the  benefits  of  peace.  Essowakkemny  rejoined  that  hi^ 
people  had.  made  peace  with  the  Mexicans,  "I  am  glad  of 
it,"  replied  Johnston;  "although  the  Mexicans  are  not  our 
friends,  it  is  good  for  the  Comanches  to  be  at  peace  with 
everybody."  Essowakkenny  added,  with  a  humorous  look, 
that  "  he  did  not  make  peace  with  the  Mexicians  until  he 
had  stollem  all  their  horse?)."  To  the  invitation  and  request 
that  he  visit  the  President  at  Houston,     Essowakkenny     re- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS,  245 

plied  that  tie  coniM  not  go,  bunt  that  hie  brother,  Eseoonaiiny, 
who  was  a  braver  man  than  himself,  would  go.  He  then  de- 
clared sentiments  of  the  strongest  friendship  for  the  whites; 
presents  of  considerable  value  were  distributed — eliciting 
maDfy  "gmints"  and  expressions  of  satisfaction — when  the 
coumicil  was'  dismissed  with  the  best  of  feelings  prevailing. 

On  the  strength  of  this  talk,  Colonel  Kaarnes,  supplying 
himself  with  a  quantity  of  suitable  goods,  l^t  with  the  band 
on  a  trading  venture  among  the  Comanches.  And 
it  is  of  record  that  "he  was  treated  well  and  m>ade  much 
money."  Encouraged  by  these  results,  a  party  of  thirteen 
men  afterwards  left  Saoi  Antonio  with  goods  to  trade  with 
them;  but  'as  they  were  never  heard  of  again,  it  wa^  sup- 
posed tihey  were  treacherously  murdered  by  tliie  Comanches.* 

A  treaty  of  peace  was  concluded  with  the  Tonkawas,  at 
Houston,  April  11, 1838,  and  signed  by  Secretary  of  War 
Barnard  E,  Bee  and  Col.  (xeorge  W.  Hoickley  for  Texas,  and 
chiefs,  Placido,  Benavido,  Campos  and  Oquin,  for  the  Indians. 
It  contained  the  following,  among  other  provisions:  "Art. 
1.  The  Tonkawa  Indians  *  *  •  being  desirous  of  enjoying 
thedr  humtiDg  grounds  and  homes  in  peace  and  also,  that 
their  white  brothers  may  be  fully  assured  that  they  sincerely 
wish  to  love  them  as  brotheanSjdo  agree  and  promise  to  bring 
to  just  punishment  such  individuals  of  their  tribe  as  may 
commit  any  depredation  upon  the  property  or  injure  the  per- 
soni  of  any  of  the  citizens  belonging  to  the  Republic  of  Tex- 
as. 

"Art.  2.  Hon.  B.  E.  Bee  and  Col.  G.  W.  Hockley,  com- 
misioner®  on  the  part  of  the  Republic  of  Texas,  being  desir- 
ous that  their  red  brothers,  the  Tonkawas,  may  not  be 
cheated  by  bad  men,  will  forthwith  appoint  an  agent  who 
shall  sfuperintend  their  bfusiness  and  protect  their  rigftits  and 
see  that  this  agreement  is  complied  with  by  all. 

"It  was  stipulated  that  five  Tonkawa  chiefs  should 
visit  ithe  seat  of  Government  twiae  a  year  and     talk     witlh 

•^Wm.  Preirton  Johntton'e  "The  Life  of  Albert  Sidney  JohnBtcn."    P.  89. 


246  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

the  Presid'ent  anid  amicably  adjust  all  differences." 

An  aet  of  the  Texas  Coagretss,  approved  May  15,  1838, 
authorized  the  Prefiddent  to  raise  a  corps  of  cavalry,  to  con- 
sist of  two  hundred  men,  eniisted  for  not  less  than  one  nor 
more  than  thre«  yeans,  for  the  pirotection  of  the  southwest- 
«im  frontier*. 

Following  the  *'big  talk"  at  San  Antonio,  it  appears  that 
the  President  siuoeeeded  in  concluding  a  treaty  of  peaice  with 
the  Comanchea,  at  tlie  Oapital,  signed  on  May  29,  1838,*  by 
Secretary  of  State,  R.  A.  Irion,  and  Dr.  A^habel  Smith,  for 
Texaa,  and  chiefs  Muguarroh,  Muestj^ad  and  Muhy  for  the 
Indians.  The  Comanches  were  to  quit  stealing  from,  and 
murdering  white  people.  The  chiefs  were  to  visit  the  seat 
of  Government  at  stated  timies  to  discuss  matters  of  mutual 
interest  and  to  peaceably  settle  grievances.  The  following 
weve  some  of  the  articles  of  the  compact:  "Art.  9i.  The 
Comanches  bind  themselves  to  make  war  upon  all  tribes  of 
Indians  that  may  make,  or  attempt  to  make,  war  on  the  trad- 
ers. 

"Art.  10.  The  Comanches  promise  that  they  will  stand 
by  the  white  man  and  be  his  frienid  against  all  of  his  ene- 
mies •  •  •  and  will  not  kill  him  or  steal  his  property. 

"Art  11.  Peace  is  never  to  die  between  the  parties 
that  make  this  agreement,  they  have  shaken  Jhanda  upon  it, 
and  the  Great  Spirit  has  looked  down  and  seen  their  ac- 
tions. He  will  curse  all  the  chiefs  that  tell  a  lie  before  hia 
eyes.    I'heir  women  and  childiren  canmot  be  happyi." 

But  the  ink  was  scarcely  dry  on  the  instrument  before 
it  wasi  violated  by  these  faithless  and  fiendish  savages,  whoirn 
we  soon  find]  not  only  "raiding,  robbing  and  scalping  as  of 
yore,  but  with  the  reckiesis  abandon  of  back-sliders." 

A  treaty  of  peace  wasi  entered  into  with  the  Wacios, 
Techuaeanas,  Keeehies  and  Towash  (Pawnee)  Indians  Sept. 
2,  1838.  It  was  njegotiatedl  by  Holland'  Coffee  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Washita  in  Fannin  county. 

♦ArchiTCf— Indian  Aff«lrs-3Ute  lAYtnrr. 


BOEDER  WARS  OF. TEXAS.  247 

Howiftvier  impraotiical  Houston's  policy  may  have  beien 
we  see  that  do  efforts  were  lacking  to  conciliate  the  ludiaaai. 
How  far  these  meaBiuaiies  served  in  preventing  hositiilitieiS 
one  cannot  juidge — since  the  catadogne  of  crimes  and  tra^- 
diea  is  seemingly  most  complete,  as  may  be  seen  from  a.  re- 
view of  the  history  of  this  period.  , 


SURVEYORS  FIGHT  ON  BATTLE  CREEK. 

One  of  the  bloodiesft  and/  handiest  fought  battles  that 
ever  totok  place  on  Texas  soil  between  white  men  and  In- 
dians was  what  ia  known  in  histoid  as  the  Surveyars 
Fight,  which  occurred  near  the  present  village  of  Dawson, 
Navarro  county,  in  October,  1.838« 

Omitting  many  details  of  thrilling  incidents  and  acts  of 
individual  heroism  in  this  celebrated  encounter  and  fierce 
border  drama,  we  shall!  give  the  principal  facts  of  the  affair 
as  contained  in  a  letter  to  the  author  from  the  late  Gen.  Wal- 
ter P.  Lane,  one  of  the  participants,  and  who  escaped  the 
fearful  conflict  with  life  and  lived  to  participate  in  many  oth- 
er bloody  battles — but  none  so  hotly  contested  nor  so  fatal, 
considering  numbers  engaged  and  arms  employed. 

Marshall,  Texas,  IMay  18,  1885. 

James  T.  DeShields,  Esq., 
Belton,  Texas. 

Dear  Sir: — ^Your  letter  asking  me  to  give  you  an  account 
of  the  fight  with  the  Kiekapoo  Indians,  September  8,  1838, 
is  just  to  hattid.  In  answer  I  will  say  that  I  was  in  a  fight 
with  the  Indians  on  Richland  Creek,  (afterwards  called  Bat- 
tle Creek)  but  it  has  been  so  long  ago  I  have  forgotten 
miostt  of  the  imcidents. 

"We  started — a  surveying  party  of  twenty-two  men  and  a 
boy  frcm  Old!  Franklin,  in  Robertson  county,  Captain  Neil 
coanmandinjg,  and  William  Henderson,  surveyor.  We  camped 
on  the  second  day  at  Parker's  Fort.  Two  years  before 
^lat  the  Fort  had  been  taken  by,  the  Comanches,  the  men 
killed,  and  the  women  aaid  children  taken'  into  captivity. 


248  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

"Wh€ii  we  reached  Battle  Creek  it  was  day,  so  we  en- 
campeid  on  the  other  sid-e,  some  two  miles  beyond,  where 
we  found'  some  300  Kickapoo  Indians  killing  buffalo  for  win- 
ter supplieis.  We  g'ot  on  very  well  with  them  till  we  com- 
meneed  surveying.  They  tried  to  frighten  us  off  by  stat- 
img  that  the  lonies  were  coming  down  to  kill  ns,  and  it 
would  be  laid  on  them.  We  would  net  go.  The  third  day 
we  cam^e  to  camp  in  the  morning  to  cook  breakfast,  when 
they  begged  us  again  to  go.  After  breakfast  we  went  back 
to  resmnie  our  surveyin'g  where  we  left  off.  A  mile  from 
camp  they  ambuscaded  us  in  a  raviine;  some  fifty  fired'  on  us 
at  forty  yards.  We  charged  them,  when  100  more  showed 
themselves  in  the  timber  behind  th^em.  At  the  samie  time 
300  charged  down  upon  us  on  horseback  from  th-e  prairies. 
They  rode  around  us,  firing.  We  retreated  to  the  head  of  a 
ravine  in  the  prairie;  its  banks  were  some  four  or  five  feet 
high,  with  a  few  coUonwood  trees  growing  on  them.  The  In- 
dians got  sevecQity-five  yards  belo^v  us  and  commenced  firing. 
This  was  about  nine  o'clock.  Whenever  ctce  of  our  men 
would  put  up  his  head  to  shoot,  twenty-five  Indians  would 
pull  down  ou  him.  The  Indians  had  climbed  up  in  these  Cot- 
tonwood trees  in  order  to  shoot  over  into  the  creek.  A  gal- 
lant gientleman,  Mr.  Euclid  M.  Cox,  got  behind  a  lone  tree 
CKD.  the  bank,  amd  fired  for  several  hours,  shooting  at  the  In- 
dians in  the  trees  below,  but  exposing  his  body,  he  was  shot 
through  the  spine.  He  fell  from  the  tree,  the  Indians  still 
firdnig  at  him.  I  ran  up  the  bank  took  him  by  the  shoulder, 
and,  under  heavy  fire  dragged  him  to  the  ravine.  Mr.  Cox 
was  still  alive  when  his  oompaaiions  made  their  escape  but 
realizing  that  hds  wound  was  fatal  he  urged  them  to  save 
themselves  lamd  leave  him  to  his  fate.  Button,  one  of  his 
companions,  proposed  to  stay  and  die  wdth  him ;  he  told  But- 
ton there  was  no  chamce  for  him,  giving  him  one  of  hie 
pistols  and  told  him  that  if  he  made  his  eseape  to  give  the 
pistol  to  his  wife ;  the  other,  he  took  in  his  hend  amd  re- 
marked that  he  would  keep  this  one  to  defend  hdimself  with. 
Button  made  his  eseape  and  delivered  the  pistol  afi  reque«rted 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  249 

and  it  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Shieriff  Cwx  of  Hilleiboro. 
Davis  of  Sam  Augustine,  who  was  well  mounted,  tried,  to 
break  through,  hut  the  Indians  caught  and  killed  him  in  sight. 
"We  fooight  till  twelve  o'clock  at  night.  We  wer«  waiting 
for  the  moon  to  cloud  over  before  we  charged  through  them 
to  the  bottom  one  fourth  mile  distant.  At  that  time  we 
broke  through.  The  Indians  kept  thirty  stjeps  in  our  rear, 
firing.  We  would  face  around  rnd  fire.  We  hadi  three 
horses  left  when  we  retreated,  with  two  wcfumded  men  on 
each.  Captain  Neill  was  shot  in  the  baek  and  fell.  He  call- 
ed to  me  to  help  him  on  a  horse,  whose  rider  was  just  killed. 
Two  of  us  got  him  on,  but  the  horste  and  rider  were  both 
killed  before  tliey  got  twenty  steps.  I  had  got  within  one 
hundred  yau'ds  of  the  tiuubeir  wh^m  I  was  shot  in  the  leg, 
splintering  tbe  home.  I  made  out  to  reach  a  thiicket  in  com- 
pany with  Henderson  amd  Button,  the  only  two  who  were 
not  wounded.  We  got  into  a  deep  ravine  that  led  to  the 
creek.  I  called  to  Henderson  to  stop  and  tie  up  my  leg  as 
I  was  bleeding  to  death.  He  did  so  promptly.  We  went 
down  some  distamoe  and  heard  the  Indians  following  us.  We 
climbed  on  the  bank  and  lay  down  with  our  guns  cocked. 
T.welve  of  them  passed  so  close  I  could  have  touched  them. 
We  got  on  the  creek  an  hour  before  day,  and  followed  down 
till  we  found  some  muddy  water.  We  left  the  creek  and 
went  on  the  bank  till  we  found  a  log  reaching  to  a  brushy 
island.  We  crossed  over  it  and  lay  hidden  all  day.  We 
could  hear  the  Indians  on  the  bank  looking  for  us.  At  dark 
we  started.  When  I  got  to  my  feet  the  pain  from  splinters  of 
the  bone  was  so  great  that  I  fainted.  When  I  came  to,  I  heard 
Button  tell  Henderson  to  come  on  and  leave  me,  for  I  could 
not  get  to  the  settlements.  I  arose  to  my  feet,  cursed  But- 
ton, and  told  him  I  would  beat  him  to  the  settleonents — 
which  I  did.  We  traveled  two  days  v»ithout  water  before  we 
reached  Tehuacana  Hill.  A  party  of  Kickjapoos  found  us  at 
the  spring  (they  did  not  know  of  out  fight  with  their  tribe). 
They  pointed  to  my  bloody  leg  and  asked  "Who  shot  you"! 
I  told  him  we  had  a  fight  with  the  lotniee,  aaid  we  had  got  lo«t 


250  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

from  our  party  going  home.  They  took  us  to  their  camp, 
gave  us  plenty  to  eat,  aaid  their  squaws  treated^  us  very 
kindly. 

In  two  days  after  we  got  to  Franklini  the  people 
yaised  a  ooonpany  and  went  to  Battle  Creek  and  buried  tii- 
bones  of  our  men.  Summed  up,  sixteen/  killed,  seven  escaped 
live  of  whom  were  badly  wounded. 

Mr.  Violet  had  his  thigh  wounded  in  the  edge  of  the 
timber.  He  ate  green  haws  for  two  days  and  then  struck  out 
Jot  T-ehuacana  Hill,  distamce  twenty-five  miles,  om  his  hands 
amd  knees.  The  party  we  sent  up  f oumd  him  nearly  fam- 
ished, brought  him  tio  the  settlement,  and  cared  for  him. 

Yo<uirs  truly, 

Walter  P.  Ijaaie. 

Further  incidents  occurring  in  the  course  of  this  fear- 
iul  engagement  and  especially  detailing  the  tragic  fate  of 
the  brave  Euclid  M.  Cox,  are  gleaned  from  a  graphic  narra- 
tive of  this  affair  by  Mr,  T,  H.  Dixon  who  WTote  from  au- 
thentic data  supplied  by  John  P.  Cox,  a  surviving  son  of  the 
noble  martyr-pioneer. 

As  Gen,  Lane  has  stated,  the  little  band  of  hardy  pio- 
neers were  surrounded  on  all  sides  and  quickly  realized  that 
to  charge  in  any  direction  would  be  certain  death.  The  en- 
filade of  the  Indians  was  alrtady  fierce.  In  this  dilemma 
they  discovered  near  them  the  head  of  a  ravine,  the  bed 
©f  which  was  some  five  or  six  feet  in  depth,  and  to  which 
"tiiey  made  way  with  their  wounded  in  all  possible  haste. 
On  gaining  this  refuge  they  managed  to  check  the  on- 
slaught of  the  Indians  and  succeeded  by  cautious  firing, 
hravery  and  alertness,  in  holding  their  position.  But  along 
the  banks  of  the  ravine  no  foliage  appeared  behind  which 
they  could  conceal  their  position,  other  than  a  large  and  lone 
tree  standing  near  the  bank,  and  in  order  to  shoot  it  be- 
came necessary  for  them  to  show  their  heads,  and  every 
time  this  was  done  a  perfect  fusillade  of  bullets  whistled  about 
&em     from    the  guns  of  the  savages.        Though      partially 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  251 

protected  by  the  friendly  banks  of  the  ravine  the  little  band. 
of  brave  and  dauntless  men  were  completely  hemmed  in  on 
all  sides  by  hordes  of     painted  and  yelling  warriors. 

*' About  noon  (says  Dixon)  the  daring  and  intrep- 
id Euclid  M.  Cox  conceived  the  idea  of  gadning  the  shelter 
of  the  oak  abov«  mentioned,  and  by  the  use  of  extreme 
caution  he  managed  to  secrete  hianself  ia  its  foliage  and 
from  this  place  of  concealment  he  majnaiged'  for  nearly  two 
hours  to  pour  a  continuous  and  deadly  fire  into  the  savage 
ranks.  Unfortunately,  however,  in  an  unguarded  moment, 
this  hero  exposed  a  portion  of  his  body  to  the  savages  and 
they  greeted  its  appearance  with  a  perfect  whirlwind  of 
shot,  one  of  which  penetrated  his  spine  causing  him  to  fall  to 
the  ground,  and  the  Indians  noticing  this,  and  believing  that 
he  was  the  leader  of  the  party,  redoubled'  their  firing  at 
that  point.  At  the  time  of  the  fall  of  the  brave  man  from 
the  tree,  Gen.  Walter  P.  Lane,  then  in  the  prime  and  vigor 
of  his  earl>"  manhood,  chanced  to  be  in  the  ravine  near  by, 
and  nicting  th-e  imminent  peril  of  his  heroic  and  wounded 
companion,  dashed  from  hiss  place  of  refuge  and  with  lead- 
en missiles  hailing  all  about  him,  seized  Cox  by  the  shoul- 
ders and  pulled  him  to  the  bed  of  the  ravine.  This  heroic 
conduct  of  Waliter  P.  Lane  was  bait  in  keeping  with  his  sub- 
sequent deeds  of  valor  upon  full  many  a  hard  fought  field.* 

"The  rescue  of  Cox's  wounded  body,  and  the  escape  of 
Lane  in  safety  back  to  the  ravine  appeared  to  arouse  the 
fury  of  the  savages  to-  the  utmost,  and  from  that  time  for- 
ward until  nightfall  the  hard  pressed  heroes  fofund  it  a 
matter  of  extreme  difficulty  to  bold  the  savages  at  bay. 
They  realized  that  something  must  be  done  and  that  speedi- 
ly, for  they  had  been  fightin,g  hard  all  day  without  food  or 
water,  and  theiir  thirst  was  becomimg  unjbearable.  A  consul- 
tation was  held  and  it  was  decided  that  upon  the  going 
down  of  the  moon  at  midnight,  they  would  make  a  desperate 

¥G«a.  Walter  P.  Lane  wai  th«  Uat  sonrivor  of  this  memorable  fisht.  The  gnni  old 
hero  of  aeveral  ware  and  many  similar  border  affrays,  finally  died  in  peace  at  an  advanced 
•are  on  January  28. 1892.  and  his  remains  rest  in  "Old  Marshall  Cemetery"  at  Marshall, 
Harriaoa  couaty.  Texas.    FMoe  to  his  ashes. 


362  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

attempft  to  charge  through  the  savages  andi  ga*in  the  shelter 
of  th€  tdmber,  about  half  a  mile  distant. 

"Among  th€  survivors  in  the  ravine,  was  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Davis,  who  hailed  from  San  Augustine  who  being 
"well  mounted,  determined  to  make  an  effort  to  reach  the  tim- 
ber by  charging  through  th/e  savages  single  handed  and 
alonie  in  order  to  be  in  a  position  at  midnight  to  aid  his  com- 
panions in  thedr  desperate  resolve  by  opening  fire  upon  the 
Ravages  from  the  rear,  hoping  therely  to  withdiraw  at- 
tention from  the  ravine  until  his  companions  eould  suoceed 
in  m^aiking  consiiderable  headway.  He  bade  his  companions 
good-by  and  started  upon  his  desperate  ride,  but  both  horse 
and  rider  perished  before  they  had  gotten  thirty  yards.  At 
last  the  moon  sank  to  rest  behind  the  horizon,  and  the  little 
band  began  active  preparations  for  their  desperate  charge. 
They  had  three  horses  left  them  and  upon  each  they  put 
two  of  their  wounded  who  could  ride. 

"The  brave  and  daring  Cox  realizing  his  position  full  well, 
and  knowing  that  he  had  but  a  few  hours  to  live,  would  not 
hear  to  his  companions  remaining  behind  with  him,  but  in- 
sisted upon  their  takicg  their  leave.  One  of  the  survivors, 
a  youmg  man  who  was  in  the  employ  of  Cox,  went  to  him 
and  begged  to  be  permitted  to  remain  with  him,  but  the 
dying  hero  would  not  hear  to  it,  and  taking  one  of  the 
pistols  from  his  belt,  he  handed  it  to  his  friend  and  request- 
ed that  in  the  event  of  his  escape  he  give  the  weapon  to 
his  beloved  wife,  then  at  their  home  in  Washington  county, 
and  whose  lov^d  form  he  was  destined  never  more  to  see 
upon  this  earth.  This  party  was  one  of  the  few  survivors 
of  this  massacre,  and  he  carried  out  to  the  letter  the  in- 
t>tructions  of  his  dead  employer.  Mr.  John  P.  Cox  of  Hills- 
boro,  who  has  been  for  nearly  a  fifth  of  a  century  the  sher- 
iff of  Hill  county,  has  that  very  pistol  of  his  dead  father 
in  his  possession  to-day,  and  as  he  exhibited  it  to  the  writer 
his  eyes  beamed  with  pride  and  affection  upon  it.  But  let 
us  proceed  with  the  narrative. 

"During  that  fearful  midnight   charge,   all  but   three   of 


BORDMl  WARS  OP  TEXAS.  253 

the  survivors  of  the  day's  fighting  were  kille<i  or  wounded, 
andi  amontg  the  latter  was  the  heroic  "Walter  P.  Lane,  who 
had  liis  leg  broken  by  a  bullet,  but  managed  to  gain  the 
tinuber  in  safety  in  spite  of  his  wound.  Smith,  Button,  and 
the  gallanit  Col.  W.  F.  Henderson  were  the  three  who  es- 
caipedj  unhurt,  but  amidst  great  suffering.  In  the  charge, 
the  party  became  separated,  and  one  of  their  numbeo*  wan- 
dered through  the  country  alone  for  days  and  weeks,  but 
finally  suceeededi  in  reaching  the  settlements.  Violet,  who 
had  his  leg  broken,  also  became  separated  from  his  com- 
panions in  that  fearful  charge  and  crawled  twenty-five 
miles  in  that  condition  to  Tehuacana  Springs,  where  he  was 
reseued  a  week  later  in  a  famished  and  almost  dying  con- 
dition. Henderson  and  Button  with  the  wounded  Lane 
slowly   proceeded   toward   the  settlements. 

"The  Indians  knowing  well  the  route  they  had  to  take 
or  would  take  ooi  the  journey  and  being  desdrous  of  killing 
the  eaitire  party  pro»ceeded  ahead,  and  waylaid  the  route  they 
expected  them  to  take.  But  fortunately  for  those  gallant 
heroes.  Love  and  Jackson,  chaneed  to  discover  the  Indiana 
while  returning  from  the  settlement  with  the  compass,  and 
after  a  short  skirmish  succeeded  in  rcutiujg  theui.  They 
were  surprised  upon  proceeding  some  distance  further,  to 
meet  Henderson  and  Button  with  the  wounded  Lane  slowly 
walking  into  the  trap  set  for  them  by  the  wily  savages, 
and  it  was  here  that  they  first  learned  of  the  sad  fate  that 
had  befallen  their  party.  After  carrying  Lane  to  the  settle- 
meni  a  burial  party  was  organized  and  they  set  out  for  the 
purpose  of  interring  their  dead. 

"Upon  reaching  the  scene  of  the  fight  they  recovered  and 
buried  beneath  the  spreading  boughs  of  the  oak  on  the 
bank  of  the  ravine,  the  dead  bodies  of  seventeen  heroes. 
They  found  the  dead  body  of  the  heroic  Cox  near  where 
they  had  left  him  at  his  own  request  to  die  alone  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night,  for  the  reason  that  he  knew  he  had 
received  his  death  wound,  and  that  any  attempt  to  save 
him  would  be  useless.    When  they  left    thia   hero   on   that 


254  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

fateful  night,  life  was  not  entirely  gone  from  his  body  and 
a  loaded  pistol  was  left  with  him,  hut  on  their  return  it 
was  gone,  and  near  him  were  pools  of  blood,  indiicating  that 
he  had!  dealt  the  death  wound  to  at  least  another  savage 
prior  to  the  flight  of  his  soul  to  that  other  world." 
•  •  •  I*  ••  •  «  •  * 

Should  the  tourist,  seeking  objects  of  historical  interest, 
and  shrines  of  hero  worship  chance  to  visit  the  vicinity  of 
this  desperate  contest  between  white  and  red  men  in  the  long 
ago,  he  would  behold  beneath  tlie  boughs  of  a  majestic,  but 
a  battlenscarred,  oak,  a  beautiful  shaft  towering  far  above 
the  surrounding  undergrowth,  and  upon  closer  inspection  he 
would  find.'  it  chiseled  with  the  names  of  the  heroic  dead  who 
rest  beneath  it;  the  date  and  manner  of  their  death,  et«. — 
a  fitting  memorial  erected  a  few  years  since,  in  commemora- 
tion of  the  gallant  fight  they  made  for  the  supremacy  of 
the  white  man  and  civilization,  by  two  loving  sons  of  the  gal- 
lant Euclid  M.  Cox;  John  P.  Cox  who  has  spent  the  best 
years  of  his  life  as  a  sheriff  and  in  enforcing  the  laws  of 
his  country,  and  Rev.  J.  Fred  Cox,  a  presiding  elder  of  the 
M.  E.  church  South,  long  laboring  for  the  uplifting  of  man 
dn  Texas — a  tribute  of  noble  sons  to  the  valor  of  their  worthy 
sire  and  his  equally  gallant  comrades  who  lost  their  lives 
in  defense  of  this  land  against  savagery.  And  reader,  were 
you  a  stranger  and  knew  not  the  legends  of  our  border 
land,  any  Texan,  with  swel'ling  pride  and  patriotic  emotions, 
would  tell  you  in  substance  the  story  here  recounted — the 
traditions  of  our  border  history  and  the  valorous  deeds  of 
our  matchless  pioneers  that  have  been  handte^d  down,  trans- 
mitlted  as  it  were,  from  bleeding  sire  to  son.* 


*'  Hilliboro.  Texu,  Fabruary  14, 18S9. 

Mr.  JamcB  T.  DeShieldg.  FarmcrBville.  Texas. 

Dear  Sir:  I  tend  you  herewith  the  photograph  of  the  monument  to  the  heroes  of  the  Bat- 
tle Creek,  or  Surreyors  flgrht,  also  of  my  fathers  pistol.  My  father.  Euclid  M.  Cox,  waa 
bom  in  Kentucky,  near  Bowlins  Green.  He  oaaie  to  Texas  in  February,  1882.  I  hare  hi* 
pasBport  from  New  Orleans  to  Texaa.  girea  by  the  Mexican  Council.  He  was  in'the  battle 
of  Concapeion  and  the  Grass  fiarht  ia  1836,  and  serred  under  Gen.  Sam  Houston  in  the  cam- 
vaiffn  of  1836. 

I  append  a  list  of  those  who  were  killed  in  the  Battle  Creek  fieht.  and  whoM 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  256 

FATE  OF  OTHER  SUEVEYING  EXPEDITIONS. 

Earlier  in  this  year,  perhaps  two  or  three  montlhs  be- 
fore the  occurrence  of  the  Surveyors  Fight,  above  narrated, 
the  veteran  surveyor,  Col.  Wm.  F.  Henderson,  had  kad  a  sur- 
veying party  from  Old  Franklin  to  the  same  vicinity  and 
Bueceeded  in  doing  some  work  on  Pin  Oak,  a  small  tributary 
of  Richland  creek,  in  Navarro  county.  But  the  party  exper- 
ieneed  considerable  trouble  from  Indians;  one  of  the  men — 
Holland — having  been  killed  and  the  balance  of  the  corps 
forced  to  desist  from  work  and  retreat  to  the  settlements. 

At  the  same  time  another  surveying  party  conducted  by 
Col.  Richard  Sparks  from  Fort  Houston  (now  Palestine)  pen- 
etrated the  same  section  and  attempted  to  survey  lands — 
eomewhat  in  conjunction  with  Henderson's  party.  But 
Spark's  party  also  met  with  disaster — first,  Berry,  one  of 
their  men  who  became  separated  from  his  companions,  was 
brutally  murdered,  and  then  the  Indians  atltacked  the  party, 
killing  Colonel  Sparks  and  dispersing  the  balance, 
who  escaped  afoot  and  without  food  or  arms  with  which  t© 
kill     game,  finally  reaching  the  settlements  in  sad  plight. 

The  sad  and  unsuccessful  results  of  thes'e  and  otiher  exp^ 
ditions,  going  out  of  Old  Franklin,  Fort  Houston  and  that 
section  of  the  country,  completely  broke  up  the  Springfield 
and  other  more  advanced  settlements,  and  further  efforts  im 
that  direction  were  not  again  attempted  until  about  1844-45 
when  the  Indians  were  pushed  back,  effectual  surveys  ae- 
eomplished  and  the  country  regularly  located  and  permanent- 
ly settled. 


THE  PIONEER  MOTHERS  OF  TEXAS. 

During  the  winter  of  1837-8,    Indians    were  esceedingly 

«Pp«ar  on  the  monument:  Euclid  M.  Cox.  Tom  Bartca,  Sam  Aller,  —  Ingraham,  —  Davia, 
J.  Hard.  Asa  T.  Mitchell,  J.  Neal,  Wm.  Tremier.  -  Spikes.  J.  Bulloch,  N.  Baker,  A.  Hou»- 
ton,  P.  M.  Jones.  Jamet  Jones.  Dave  Clark.  J.  W.  Williams.  The  few  to  escape  were  Wal- 
ter P.  Lane,  W.  F.  Henderson,  —  Violet,  —  Button,  and  —  Smith. 

I  hope  to  read  jrour  history  soon,  for  I  am  satisfied  it  will  be  fine. 

Yours  truly  John  P  Cox 


256  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

hostile  toward  the  people  of  the  Brazos,  depredating  to  such 
an  extent  that  the  few  advancedsettlers  were  compelled  to  re- 
move down  to  the  more  populous  settlements.  Among  those 
to  abandon  their  newly  acquired  homestead  was  Wm.  Smith 
and  family,  who  had  located  in  the  Brazos  bottom.  While 
loading  their  household  effects  into  a  wagon  for  moving, 
they  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians.  Barring  the 
doors  of  their  log  cabin,  they  prepared  for  defense,  but  un- 
fortunately found  that  most  of  their  ammunition  was  in 
the  wagon.  The  situation  was  critical,  requiring  quick  and 
desperate  action.  The  brave  wife  and  mother  was  equal  to 
the  emergency' — unmindful  of  her  great  peril — thinking  only 
of  protecting  her  loved  ones' — she  opened  the  door,  rushed  to 
the  wagon  near  hy  in  the  yard,  and  secured  a  supply  of 
powder  and  lead,  returned,  w^'th  but  slight  wounds,  amid  a 
perfeet  sJiower  of  balls  and  arrows,  and  calmly  set  to  work 
moulding  bullets.  Firing  through  the  crack®  with  good  aim 
as  opportunity  offered,  Mr.  Smith  withstood  the  fierce  and 
prolonged  attack,  cuasing  the  savages  to  retire  with  their 
wounded.  As  soon  as  expedient,  the  family  retreated  with 
their  effects  into  the  settlements.  The  following  year,  Mr. 
Smith  participated,  as  we  have  seen,  in  Khe  famous  Battle 
Creek  fight,  and  eseaped  to  lender  much  service  oni  the 
southwestern  frontier.  He  was  a  brave,  Christian  gentleman. 
His  heroic  and  noble  wife,  noted  for  her  many  virtues,  lived 
to  rear  an  inte'resting  and  worthy  family  of  sons  and  daugh- 
ters—one  son,  the  late  Prof.  Smith  of  Old  Salado  College,  be- 
ing personally  known  to  the  writer. 

Forever  honored  and  exalted  be  the  memory  of  the  no- 
ble and  matchless  pioneer  mothers  of  Texas.  Brave,  hardy, 
and  suffering  severest  trials  without  shirking  or  complaint, 
the  highest  tribute  should  be  conferred  on  them,  because 
■"a  spirit  so  resolute,  yet  so  adventurous,  so  unambitious 
yet  so  exalted — a  spirit  so  highly  calculated  *o  awa^ken  a 
love  of  the  pure  and  noble,  yet  so  uncommon,  never  before 
actuated    the     ancestral  matrons   of   any   land    or   clime." 


I.    Rev.  Andrew  Davis 

3.     Collin  McKinney 


2.     Jno.  W.  Wilbarger 

4.     Abram  Anglin 


i 


MONUMH.Njr     TO    HHROE3    OF     BATTL-E    CREEK    FIGHT 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  257 

The  mothers  of     our  frontier  land! 

Stout-hearted  dames  were  they, 
With  nerves  to  wield  the  battle-brand 

And  join  the  border  fray. 
Our  rough  land  had  no  braver  ones 

In  the  days  of  blood  and  strife — 
Aye,  ready  for  the  severest  toil, 

Aye,  free  to  peril  life. 

The  mothers  of  our  frontier  land 

Their  bosoms  pillowed  men! 
And  proud  indeed,  were  they  to  stand 

In  hummock,  fort;  or  glen; 
To  load  the  sure  old  rifle, 

To  run  the  leaden  ball,         ; 
To  stand  beside  a  husband's  place 

And  fill  it  should  ^e  fall. 

The  moiViers  of  our  forest  land, 

Such  was  their  daily  deed's, 
Their  monument  where  does  it  stand? 

Their  epitaph  I     Who  reads? 
No  braver    dames     had  Sparta, 

No  nobler  matrons  Rome, 
And  yet  who  lauds  or  honors  them, 

In  this  their  own  green  home? 


EARLY  DAYS  OF  BASTROP. 

Like  Gonzales  on  tiie  Guadnlupe,  and  Naahviille  on  the 
Brazos,  Bastrop  on  the  Colorado,  was  for  some  years  an  ex- 
treme outpost,  and  in  consequence  .suffered  greatly  from  In- 
dian depredations.  The  town  was  first  laid  out  by  Stephen 
F.  Austin  in  1830,  and  uainied  in  honosr  of  tdiat  early  frieaid 
to  the  Austins  and  colonial  Texas — the  Baron  de  Bastrop. 
Some  of  the  most  prominent  early  defenders  of  Texas ;  as 
the  Burlesons,  the  Wilbargers,  the  Wileys,  the  Hardemans, 
the  Andersona,  the  Bartons,  Robt.  M.  Williamson,  Hig(h- 
smiths,  Robt.  M.  Coleman,  John    Caldwell,    Dalrymple,    Gil- 


258  ,         BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

leland,  Barkley,  John  W.  Pace,  Bartlett  Sims,  Jesse  ("Buck- 
skin") Billingsley,  Cicero  Rufus  Perry,  Geren  Brown,  John 
Egglestion,  and  many  others  of  whom  space  forbidb  mention 
here,  were  residents  of  this  town. 

T!he  mfuiQiicipality  of  Basitrop  took  an  early  and  promi- 
nent piart  in  the  revolutionary  movement  for  indepeEdeai'Ce 
in  1835,    being    the  first  to  organize  a  commititee  'Of  safety. 

Some  of  the  stirring  and  bloody  episodes  occurring  in 
and  around  this  truly  frontier  town  have  already  beeoi  niair- 
rated  and  other  incidients  will  be  briefly  noted  in  tihis  coB- 
nection. 

John  Eggleston,  an  early  settler  and  a  worthy  soldier 
in  the  Texas  war  of  independence,  was  killed  by  Indiaaiis  in 
the  town  of  Bastrop.  Wilbarger  furnishes  the  following  inci- 
dents of  his  traigic  f  aite : 

"Near  Eggleston's  residence,  one  of  ha®  neighboirs.  Car- 
ter Anderson^  had  picketed  in  a  large  lot  for  the  safe  keep- 
ing of  his  stock,  the  gate  of  which  was  fastened  every  night 
with  a  chain  aoad  padlock.  One  dark  nigiht  in  January, 
1838,  Eggleston  happened  to  be  walking  on  the  street  near 
Anderson's  lot.  Hearing  a  rattling  of  the  chain  at  the  gate 
and  thinking  probably  some  one  was  trying  to  enter  it,  he 
concluded  to  investigate  the  matter.  As  he  approached 
he  heard,  as  he  thought,  the  grunting  of  hogs,  and  see- 
ing several  diark  objects  moving  in  the  vicinity,  he 
naturally  supposed  they  were  hogs  and  turned  tO'  retrace 
his  step.  Just  as  he  did'  so  an  arrow  stxuck  him  in  the 
breast.  Eggleston  fled,  crying  out  'Indians'  as  he  went. 
There  were  a  few  men  on  guard  at  the  time,  who  heard  his 
cries  and  hurried  to  his  assistance,  but  they  were  unable 
to  pursue  the  Indians,  for  the  night  was  a  very  dark  one, 
ajad  they  made  their  escape.  Egigleston  survived  for  three 
days  in  great  agony." 

Soon  after  this  the  Indians  again  entered  the  town  at 
night,  killing  Messrs.  Hart  and  Weaver,  and  escaped. 

A  little  later,  some  three  miles  east  of  town,  Messrs. 
Robineon  and  Dollar  were  riving  boards,  when    they    were 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  259 

surprised  by  fifteen  Indians.  Says  Brown:  "Each  sprang 
npon  his  horse,  near  by,  bnt  Robinson  was  killed'  at  the 
same  moment,  while  Dollar  was  pursued  and  hemmed  on  a 
high  bank  of  the  river;  but  leaving  his  borse,  he  leaped 
down  tthie  bank  about  twenty  feet,  swam  th-e  Colora;do  and 
then  hastened  to  town.  Soon  afterwards  he  started  to 
leave  the  country  and  wais  never  again  hieard  of.  No  doubt 
was  entertained,  however,  of  his  having  been  killed  by  In- 
dians."* 

In  the  winter  of  this  year  a  citizen  was  killed  by  In- 
dians in  the  streets  of  Bastrop.  In  fact  scarcely  a  month 
passed  that  the  town  was  not  visited  by  some  murdering 
band  of  Indians,  but  the  details  in  most  instances,  are-  ,too 
meager  for  record. 


CAPTAIN  HAEVEY'S  ADVENTURE. 

Among  the  early  and  useful  pioneers,  personally  known 
to  the  writer,  was  Capt.  John  Harvey,  who  long  resided  at 
the  beautiful  little  village  of  Salado  in  Bell  county; 
and  Where  he  died  about  1886.  He  was  another  Tenn'e- 
»eean  to  Texas,  born  in  1810,  and  emigrating  in  1834.  He 
participated  in  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  and  afterwards 
joined  several  expeditions  against  Indians  and  Mexioans.  Be- 
ing a  surveyor  by  profession  and  doing  much  work  on  the 
frontier,  he  had  a  number  of  adventures  and  escapades. 
The  following  incident,  though  not  resulting  in  tragedy, 
will  be  of  thrrilling  interest: 

Harvey,  accompanied  by  a  party  of  twenty  men, 
camped  in  the  territory  ttraversed  by  the  Slan  Saba,  but 
several  miles  from  the  stream,  for  the  purpose  of  gairs'eying 
lands  granted  to  German  colonists. 

His  companions  were  inexperienced  and  he  found  it  im- 
possible to  induce  thean  to  take  ordinary  precautions  against 
surprise  and  attack  by  hostile  Indians.  T'he  weather  being 
sultry,  the  men  dispersed  in  various  directions  for  water, 
leaving  Harvey  in  camp. 


i^Brovn'*  IndiftB  Ware  And  Pioneen  of  T«xsb. 


260  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Becomimg  thirsty  himself,  some  time  after  their  depart- 
ure, he  struck  out  down  a  ravine,  hopiuig  to  find  a  pool  of 
water.  After  he  had  proceeded  for  a  mile  or  more,  he  waa 
suddenly  surrounded  and  captured  by  "Waco  Indians,  who 
rose  from  behind)  bushes  -vVhere  they  had  beeo  crouching  and 
awaiting  his  approach. 

With  their  prisoner  they  started  for  camp.  On 
the  way  they  stole  a  pony  from  a  Comanche  camp  and  be- 
ing very  huuigry,  killed  it  and  cooked  and  aitie  part  of  it. 
They  then  tied  a  hind-quarter  of  tlie  animal — over  one  hun- 
dred pounds  of  meat — on  Harvey's  back  and  hastened  oa 
to  their  rendezvous.  No  halt  was  made  there,  but  the  entire 
band  at  once  started  on  the  retreat  to  their  distant  home. 
They  traveled  without  pause  until  sunset,  and)  then  stopped 
for  the  purpose  of  camping  for  the  night.  Harvey  had  been 
compelled  to  eao-ry  'h»i)S  burden  and  keep  up  with  them  over 
mountains  and  across  gulohes  and  can>x>nis,  and  was  com- 
pletely exha.usted. 

A  moment  later  the  pursuing  Comanchea  daslhed  upon 
the  scene  andi  surrounded  th€  camp.  Tlie  Wacos  offered  no 
resistance. 

In  obedientce  to  the  command  of  the  Comanche  chief, 
they  produced:  the  Waoo  who  had  stolen  the  pony,  and  he 
was  immediately  tied  and  staked  to  the  ground,  and  given 
three  hundred  lashes  on  the  bare  back  with  a  rawhide  whip. 

He  then  asked  who  was  responsible  for  taking  tlhe  white 
man  prisoner.  The  Wacos  indicated  their  chief,  and  the 
Comanches  immediately  seized  and  bound  him,  and  gave  him 
the  same  kind  of  flogging. 

They  gave  Harvey  a  butcher  knife  and  told  him  to  kill 
the  Waco  chief.  He  refused  to  do  so.  They  then  urged 
him  to  OHt  off  the  chief's  ears.    This  he  also  declined  to  do. 

The  Comanche  chief  ordered  the  Wacoa  not  to  further 
molest  Harvey  or  liis  men  and  dieparted,  taking  him  with 
them  and  started  him  back  to  hia  own  camp.  For  some  rea- 
son, it  seems,  they  considered  him  and  hia  men,  as  being  un- 
der their  special  protection. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  |     261 

KAKKE8'   FAMOUS  FIGHT. 

On  August  10,  1838,  Capt.  Henry  Karnes,  with  twenty 
volunteers,  was  halting  on  the  Arroya  Seco,  a  small  stream 
west  of  the  Medina,  when  they  were  suddenly  and  unexpect- 
edl  attacked  by  about'  200  armed  and'  mounted  Comanches. 
Quick  as  possible  the  rangers  secured  their  horsies,  and  im- 
mediately prepared- — somewhat  protected  by  a  ravine  and 
the  chaparal — for  defenste.  Ten  to  one,  the  Indians  were  con- 
fident of  success,  and  charged  with  exultant  yells.  Th-e  Tiex- 
ans  were  cool  and'  determined,  firing  with  deadly  aim  and  in 
alternate  platoons,  by  which  one  third  of  their  guns  were 
slways  loaded  to  meet  the  oft  repeated  attacks  at  close 
quarters.  Again  and  a.gain  the  Indians  charged  and  were  re- 
pulsed, till  more  than  twenty  of  their  warriors  were  slain, 
and  as  many  more  wounded,  when  they  gave  up  the  con- 
test, retreating  with  their  de?d.  Captain  Karnes,  greatly  ex- 
posed, received  a  severe  wound, (which  two  years  later  caus- 
ed 'his  death)  besides  nearly  every  horse  belonging  to  his  men 
was  either  killed  or  wounded. 

This  was  a  moist  gallant  and  successful  defense  against 
immense  odds,  the  skill  and  bravery  displayed,  stamping  ev- 
ery member  of  the  little  company  a  real  hero. 


CAPTURE  OF  MATILDA  LOCKHART  AND  THE  PUT- 
MAN  CHILDREN. 

In  October,  1838,  occurred  the  capture  of  Matilda  Dock- 
hart  and  the  Putman  children,  one  of  the  notable  incidents 
of  Texas  border  history.  The  following  account  is  from  the 
pen  of  A.  J.  Sowell,  and  is  believed  to  be  substantially  cor- 
rect: 

"In  the  fall  of  1838  there  lived  two  families  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Gaudalupe  river,  two  miles  below  the  town  of 
Gonzales,  named  Putma«n  and  Lockhart.  They  were  industri- 
ous, good  citizens  and  had  just  begun  to  get  things  into  shape 
again  around  their  homes  after  the  terrible  "runaway 
Bcrape,"  &b  it  wias  ©ailed,  and  tiie  battle  of  Sian  Jacinto.  Life 
ahead  of  them  looked  brighst  and  cheerful,  but  alas  for  human 


262  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

hop^'S  and  aspirations,  how  soon  was  their  cup  of  sorrow  to 
be  filled  to  overflowing  and  they  compelled^'  to  drink  to 
the  bitter  dregs!  In  the  fall  of  the  above  named  year  Matil- 
da Lockhart  audi  three  of  tlie  Putman  children,  two  girls  and 
a  boy,  James,  the  youngest  of  the  party,  went  to  the  river 
bottom  for  the  puppose  of  gathering  pecams.  For  some  time 
they  gathered  the  nurts  which  were  in  abundance  and  their 
merry  laugh  ever  and  anon  rang  out  through  the  gloomy 
forest.  At  last  it  was  time  to  go  home,  their  vessels  were  full 
and  their  exentiona  had'  given  them  a  keen  appetite  for  their 
dinner  the  hour  for  which  bad  now  passed.  The  girls  got 
their  bonnets  and  buckets  and  the  merry  group  emerged]  from 
the  bottom  to  the  edge  of  the  prairie,  but  what  a  sight  now 
met  the  eyes  of  those  merry  ones,  the  laugbing  voices  were 
hushed  and  the  cheeks  whicih  a  moment  ago  glowed  with 
health  and  gay  spirits  now  blanched  and  paled  with  terror. 
There,  in  a  few  yards  of  them,  rode  a  band  of  wild  painted 
Comanche  Indians ;  the  scourge  of  the  Texas  frontier.  Es- 
cape was  impossible.  With  a  wild  shout  the  Indians  circled 
around  them  and  all  were  soon  captured  and  carried  scireiam- 
ing  away  on  the  horses  of  the  painted  demons  who  dashed 
up  the  valley  toward  their  hunting  grounds  in  the  great 
west.  When  the  children  did  not  come  home  at  the  proper 
time  the  parents  became  uneasy  and  repaired  to  the  pecan 
groves  to  search  for  them.  No  pen  can  describe  the  agony 
of  those  parents  when  they  came  to  the  spot  where  the 
capture  had  taken  place.  A  bonnet  here,  an  overturned  buck- 
et there,  and  peoans  scattered  everywhere.  Out  in  the  prairie 
lay  little  Jimmie's  hat.  The  ground  was  torn  up  by  horse 
tracks  and  too  wiell  these  pioneers  knew  whiat  had  become  of 
their  loved  ones.  No  time  was  to  be  lost.  Neigbbors  were 
notified,  and  soon  a  party  was  on  the  trail  of  the  daring  red 
men.  Lockhart  was  furious  and  vowed  vengence  of  the  most 
direful  nature  sua  he  spurred'  madly  on  the  trail.  Putman  was 
more  cautious  but  not  lacking  in  courage.  He  had  fought  at  San 
Jacinto.  He  advised  the  men  to  move  cautiously  and  not  rush 
into  an  ambuscade.  The  trail  led  up  the  river  to  the  foot   of 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  263 

the  moum tains  and  here  it  wa«  lost.  The  laat  sign  of  the  la- 
dianis  was  S€«eii'  on  a  eand!  bar  at  the  month  of  the  Comial 
river  wh^re  the  towtn  of  New  Braunfels  now  is.  Andrew 
Sowell  who  was  one  of  the  trailing  party  says  they  turned 
back  her>e  but  against  the  wishes  of  Loekhart  who  wanted  to 
go  on  into  the  mormtaiins.  After  the  retuim  a  larger  force 
was  raised  and  onoe  more  went  in  pursuit.  This  time  they 
came  upocn  the  Indians'  in  their  village  in  the  mountains  and  a 
battle  was  fought  which  was  disastrous  to  the  settlers,  aa 
they  were  greatly  outnumbered.  Loekhart  was  woumded 
and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  the  men  could  get  him  away 
as  he  still  wanted  to  fight.  In  1840  a  treaty  wias  made  with 
the  Comanches  in  which  Matilda  Loekhart  was  recovered, 
and  later  on  James  Putmam  who  at  that  time  was  about  16 
years  of  age  and  «s  wild  as  amv  Indian.  He  would  not  sleep 
on  a  bed  or  in  a  house,  nor  eat  with  a  knife  and  fork.  The 
oldest  Putmam  girl  beioame  the  wife  of  a  chief  and  lived  and 
died  a  wild  life  among  the  Indians. 

''About  30  years  after  the  capture  of  the  children  a 
man  named  Chenault  who  had  been  an  Indian  agent,  moved 
to  Gonzales  from  Missouri,  bringing  a  lady  with  him  whom 
he  had  bought  from  the  Indians  several  years  before.  He  had 
carried  her  to  hisi  home  in  Missouri  and  when  he  came  to 
Texas  broaght  her  with  him  aa  a  mem'ber  of  the  family.  This 
was  the  youngest  Putman  girl.  She  oould  not  remember  her 
name  but  said  the  Guadalupe  valley  was  strangely  familiar  to 
her.  Her  father,  who  was  still  alive,  hearing  of  the  circum- 
stance came  to  see  her  and  by  marks  oa  her  bod(y  identified 
her  as  his  long  lost  child.  How  strange  that  she  should  be 
brought  back  almost  to  the  very  spot  where  she  was  captured 
thirty  years  before.  James  Putman  lived  for  many  years  in 
Guadalupe  county  and  died  in  Hays  county  in  the  early 
seventies.  He  married  a  widow  Nash  and  had  one  daugh- 
ter naaned  Sarah.  He  said  the  Indians  carried  him  all  over 
Texaa,  New  Mexico  and  Arizona  and  also  parts  of  Califor- 
nia. He  saw  them  fight  several  battles  with  emigrants  on 
the  plains."  , 


264  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

IK  THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  ALAMO  —  TRAGIC  8CENS8 
OF  INDIAN  WARFARE  AROUND   BAN  ANTONIO. 

Although  the  most  populous  and  important  to-wn  in  the 
province  and  the  Republic  of  Texas,  San  Antonio,  being  the 
extreme,  and  isolated,  outpost  of  civilizaition  in  that  direc- 
tion, was,  from  early  times,  and  until  a  much  later  period 
than  that  of  which  we  aire  ntow  writing,  greatly  expos-ed.  to 
Indian  forays. 

After  the  fall  of  the  place  and  expulsion  of  the  Mexican 
soldiery,  in  Decemher  1835,  mnny  of  its  Mexican  residents, 
gome  €f  much  worth  and'  respectability,  left,  crossing  over 
the  Rio  Grande.  Thus  depleted  in  population,  but  little  life 
appeared  in  San  Antonio  from  the  campaigns  of  1835-36  till 
on  the  eve  of  opening  the  landi  office  and  preparations  for 
the  survey  of  lands  early  in  this  year.  These  openings  drew 
to  the  place  various  surveyors,  holders  of  bounty  warrants 
and  head-right  certificates,  as  well  as  many  others,  seek- 
ing either  employment  or  adventure.* 

At  that  date  bands  of  Comanches,  all  professing  friend- 
ship, frequented  the  vicinity — and  visited  the  town  re- 
newing treaties,  but  at  the  same  time  protesting 
against  surveyors  exploring  their  country,  marking  the  trees, 
and  running  off  the  game.  One  of  the  first  surveying  par- 
ties to  go  out,  while  on  the  Rio  Frio,  had  some  of  their 
horses  stolen  by  the  Indians  camped  in  the  vicinity.  Upon 
discovering  and  demanding  the  animals  a  fight  ensued  in 
which  Mr.  Campbell,  the  surveyor,  was  killed^  and 
Captain  Cage  severely  wounded  by  a  copper  arrow  in  his 
cheek,**  but  narrowly  escaped  with  his  companions  to  tofwn. 
This  affair  sufficiently  demonstrated  the  necessity  of  larger 
and  well  armed  parties  in  successfully  prosecuting  further 
work. 

4^AmonK  others  sppearine  at  San  Antonio  about  this  time  and  ••eking  employment  aa 
•  aurveyor,  was  •  youne:  roan  destined  to  perform  a  most  important  and  meritoriooB  ser- 
vice in  the  defense  of  the  Texas  frontier  and  to  train  mnch  r«nowB  as  a  fearless  border 
chief  and  partisan  leader— Jack  Hays,  the  famous  Texas  Ranger. 

1^  i^The  copper  arrow-head  was  skillfully  axtraeted  by  the  •arly  and  eninent  Dr. 
Smithers  of  San  Antosio— a  soldiar  of  Valssco  in  '32,  who,  with  two  conpanions,  was  mvr- 
4ered  at  the  Cibola  Sulphur  Springs,  in  anc  of  the  raida  of  1M2. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  26& 

Accordingly,  on  the  21st  of  September,  1838,  John  C« 
(Jack)  Hays,  in  the  double  capacity  of  surveyor  and  com- 
mander, left  wit|i  a  force  for  the  Leon,  where  they  remained 
about  a  month,  running  three  compaeses  and  doing  coniSider- 
tble  work  without  serious  hindrances. 

About  the  middle  of  October  another,  but  smaller,  force 
was  organized  for  work  closer  in.  On  the  18th  of  this  month 
whiLe  camped  at  the  Presidio  crossing  on  the  Leon,  some 
Beven  miles  from  town,  tbey  were  surprised  by  Indians  an^ 
two  of  their  number,  Moses  Lapliam  a  soldier  at  San  Jacin- 
to, and  a  Mr.  Jones,  of  Bastrjp.  wene  kliled.  Mr.  Earnest 
and  others  escaped  on  foot  to  town.  "A  Mexican  named 
Padre  Goaner  (says  Thrall)  was  scalped,  but  succeeded  in 
reacihing  the  cit^y,  where  he  still  (1878)  lives."* 

At  the  time.  District  Court  (Judge  James  W.  Robinsoia 
presiding)  was  in  session,  from  which  cause  there  were  more 
persons  than  usual  in  town. 

Hendrick  Arnold,  a,  disciple  of  Deaf  Smith,  took  com- 
mand of  a  few  men,  went  out  to  reconnoitre,  and  had  at 
slight  skirmish.  Others  were  anxious  to  go,  but  some 
lacked  horses.  Major  Valentine  Bennett,  as  quartermaster, 
partly  supplied  this  want,  in  so  far  that  Oapt.  Cage  was 
soon  enabled  to  leave  in  charge  of  nine  others.  A  few  more 
followed  Cage  on  the  Presidio  road  towards  the  scene  of  con- 
flict on  the  Leon.  Time  passed,  and  the  house  tops-  in,  town> 
were  occupied  by  anxious  persons  scanning  the  west  (for  at 
that  dby  the  view  Avas  uninterrupted  by  bushes)  for  indica- 
tions of  the  anticipated  engagement;  and  while  so  engaged 
a  party  of  Indians,  in  plain  viiw,  passed  on  tbe  west  side  of 
town,  killing  a  Mexican  cartman  and  his  oxen.  Frightened 
Mexicans  occasionally  rushed  in  with  wild  reports  and  the 
interest}  became  intense  among  those  powerless  to  render  suc- 

>^"On  the  same  day,  Francieco  A.  Ruiz  and  Nicolas  FlorcB  Ruiz  were  taken 
priaonere.  Francisco  Ruiz  wae  weil  known  to  the  Indians  asd  that  night  one  of  the  chiefs- 
BBtied  him  and  told  him  to  escape.  He  now  lives  on  the  Medina  River.  Ftores  was  prob- 
ably killed,  as  he  was  never  heard  of  afterwards."— Thrall's  "Pictorial  History  of  Texas.'" 


^6  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

«cor.  Among  those  who  had  gone  out  with  Cage,  or  follawed 
w^ter,  were  Judge  Hood,*  Gen.  Dunlap,  (late  of  Tennessee) 
James  Campbiell,  an  Irishman,  appropriately  known  from  his 
-solubility  a^  "Talking"  Campbell,  —  Bailey,  —  Lee,  a 
voung  mercliant  from  Houston,  —  0 'Boyle,  Ro-bert  Patton 
;'aa(d  others  whose  names  cannot  now  be  given.  On  the  way 
«hat,  before  reaching  the  Leon,  the  Indians  appeared,  the  vol- 
iJiEDteers  not  .yet  being  united,  but  in  view  of  each  other.  Di- 
wid.«d  counsels  prevailed.  Some  proposed  occupying  a  grove 
mat  far  off — ot|hers  opposed.  The  enemy  encircled  them,  but 
m  doing  so,  Campbell,  mounted  on  a  fleet  gray  harse,  broke 
.€or  town,  pursued  by  several  Indians.  Though  closely  pressed, 
•Ste  outran  his  pursuers,  and  was  the  first  messenger  to 
/^report.  Cage  and  0 'Boyle  dismounted  at  a  tree  and  called 
^a  the  othens  to  do  likewise;  but  they  prefered  fighting  on 
horseback.  Hood  and  Bailey  cbnrged  through  the  Indians 
--and  then  back  to  their  comrades,  in  which  the  formier  was 
•wounded  by  an  arrow.  Bailey's  gain  then  fajiled  to  fire  and 
-Hood  hiad  but  one  charge  left.  Cage  and  0 'Boyle,  on  the 
gground,  and  Lee  on  horseback,  were  killed  about  this  time, 
m&  were  several  others.  Robert  Patton  was  lanced  in  the  arm. 
jind  his  horse  wounded.  Finally  tlw  Indians  opened  the 
'way  towards  town,  and  the  survivors,  as  their  only  hope, 
j&eized  the  opportunity  of  a  race  for  life.  Speed  was  their 
asoie  reliance.  As  they  dashed  forward  the  eneany  closed  in 
.  jn  their  flanks  and  rear,  and  the  chase  only  ceased  ais  the 
•tsarvivors  entered  the  to^vn.  Gen.  Dunlap  was  laaiced  and 
'^ns  noibl-e  bay  steed  severely  wounded.  Some  wexe  kdlled  as 
^he  retreat  began.  A  Mexican,  naked  and  terribly  wound- 
'>«d,  crawled  in  some  time  later. 

On  the  20tlh  Capt.  Carras  (,or  Carracas),  with  a  company 
ijaf  Mexicans  and  Americans  (Wm.  H.  Ilargis  being  of  the 
fiarty)  went  out,  gathered)  up  the  remains  of  the  ten  un- 
iTart:unate  settlers  who  had  fallen  and  conveyed  t|hem  in. 
Coffins  were  improvised  by  Major  Bennett,    it  being  a  time 

)f  Judge  Hood  was  killed  by  the  Comanches  in  the  Council  House  hand-to-hand  fight 
<t£isS<M>  Antonio,  in  the  spring  of  1940. 


BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS.  2tfr 

when  lumber  was  very  scarce,  and  on  Monday,  OctL  21,  1838, 
after  an  eloquent  address  by  Judge  James  W.  Robinson, 
the  deceased  heroes  were  committed  to  earth  in  the  Ameri- 
can cemetery  adfjoining  the   Campo  Santo  of  the  town. 


INDIAN  TROUBLES  IN  EAST  TEXAS  —  FIRST  STAGES 
OF  THE  "CORDOVAN  REBELLION," 

July  1,  1838,  Capt.  Seguin  wrote  President  Houaton  that 
a  messenger  had  just  arrived  in  San  Antonio,  who  reported 
having  seen  two  men,  a  German  and  a  Mexican,  who  bad 
been  killed  by  Comanch'Cs,  and  were  lying  by  the  roodi  side 
four  miles  from  town.  Seguin  said  that  he  was  about  to 
start  with  a  company  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians.  In  conclu- 
sion, he  urged  upon  the  President  the  neoessity  for  better 
armed  protection  for  the  frontier.  The  powerful  pushing  of 
the  frontier  line  westward,  with  surveyors  moving  in  ajd- 
vance  of  it  as  avant  couriers,  was  not  the  only  cause  that 
stirred  the  Indians  to  deadly  action  in  1838 ;  another  equal- 
ly potent  one  was  the  military  i)olicy  adopted  by  the  Mexi- 
can Government  to  keep  alive  its  claim  to  Texas.  It  had  in 
view  the  invasion  and  re-conquest  oif  Tesas  hy  a  Mexican 
army  with  the  aid  of  the  entire  body  of  Texas  Indians  as 
allies. 

To  secure  their  co-operation,  agents  were  sent  among 
them  to  represent  that  they  would  be  given  fee  simple  titles 
to  all  the  lands  they  claimed  if  they  would  begin  at  once 
and  actively  wage  ceaseless,  and  murderous  war  upon  the 
whites.  They  were  told  that  it  was  folly  to  expect  any- 
thing from!  the  whites  except  expulsion,  or  extermination; 
and  that  if  they  stood  by  Mexico,  it  would  stand  by  them. 
The  white  people  suspected  in  a  general  way  what  was  go- 
ing forward,  but  the  conception  they  entesptained  was  so  far 
short  of  the  truth  that  they  w  re  amazed  at  the  extent  and 
diaboMsm  of  the  tactual  plot  when  it  was  disclosed  by  papers 
captured'  in  the  following  year,  under  circumstances  that 
will  be  detailedf  in  the  next  chapter. 

The    following    is     a    statement    of    part    of  the  con- 


2$8  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

.tents  of  one  of  the  paprens:  A  ktter  written  by 
Vicente  Cordova  to  Manuel  Flores — and  inserted  here, 
for  the  reason  that  it  renders  more  intelliguible  events 
thM  follow.  The  date  of  Cotrdova's  letter  is  July  19,  1838. 
He  says  that  he  had  been  commissioned  by  Gen.  Filisola  to 
"visit  the  Indians  anid  induee  them  to  become  lauxillaries  of 
the  Mexiean  na,tional  army  of  invasion;  and'  had  entered  <m 
his  duties  by  inviting  a  meeting  of  neighboriaig  tribes.  Con- 
tinuing, he  says:  "Being  informed  that  you  have  been  ap- 
pointed for  the  same  purpose,  I  would  like  to  know  what 
preliminary  action  you  have  taken,  and  for  you  to  advanee, 
with  such  force  as  you  may  be  able  to  commanld,  as  far  as 
you  may  judge  proper  •  *  *  to  hold  with  me  venbal  commun- 
icatioai  in  order  that  we  may  have,  in  our  respective  stations 
an  understanding,  •  *  •  and  that  you  will  bring  the  pipe, 
of  which  I  understand  you  are  in  possession,  in  order  that 
the  Indian  chiefs  miay  smoke  it,  of  the  Cherokee  and  other 
tribes  who  have  promised  me  to  unite  as  soon  as  possible  for 
action,  and  who  have,  also,  agreed  that,  in  case  our  plan 
should  be  diseovered  in  th.e  meantime,  they  will  commence 
operationis  with  the  force  we  have  in  hand,,  it  is  highly  de- 
sirable that  you  should  approach  to  give  us,  in  such  case,  a 
helping  hand." 

August  4,  1838,  citizens  of  -Naeogdoehes  who  were  in 
search  of  horses  that  had  been  stolen  from  them,  found  the 
animals  in  a  Mexican  settlement.  On  the  way  home,  with 
their  property,  the  white  men  were  fired  upon  and  one  of 
their  number  killed.  Tlhey  pursued  the  murderers  a  short 
disflance ;    but    coming  into  a  large  trail,  returned  to  town. 

Ai^UiSt  7th,  Capt.  John  Durst  reported  to  Maj.-Gen. 
Rusk,  commanding  the  Texas  militia,  that  one  hundred  or 
more  Mexicans  were  under  arms  and  encamped  on  tlhe  An- 
gelina river.  Capt.  Antonio  Manchaca  who  went  to  the  camp, 
reported  that  there  were  120  Mexicans  and  25  Biloxi  and 
lonie  Indians. 

Gen.  Rusk    issued    requisition  for  men    of    the  eastern 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  269 

militia  brigade  and,  while  waiting  for  them  to  assemble,  atar 
tiodied  a  connpany  of  sixty  volunteers  at  the  lower  oroaslog 
of  the  Angelina.  On  the  8th,  Presidemt  Houston  who  waa  in 
Nacogdoches,  issued  a  proclamation  ordering  the  Mexicans 
and  Indians  to  disperse  and  to  return  to  their  homes  under 
penalty  of  being  declared  enemies  of  the  Republic.  On  the 
10th,  it  was  learned  that  300  Indians  had  joined  tlie 
Mexicans.  On  that  day  President  Houston,  received  a 
oommunication  from  Vicente  Cordova,  Nat  Morris,  Joshua 
Robertson,  Juan  Jose  Rodriguez,  C.  Morales,  J.  Santos  Ooy, 
J.  Vicente  Micheli,  J.  Arriola  and  A.  Corda,  leaders  of  the 
insurgents,  in  which  they  refused  to  obey  the  executive  or- 
der and  made  vague  declaration  as  to  their  ultimate  pur- 
pclfee. 

During  the  day  Cordova  broke  oamp  and  marched  in 
the  direction  of  the  Cherokee  settlement.  Maj.  Henry  W. 
'Augustin  at  the  head  of  a  strong  detachment,  fallowed  him, 
while  Gen.  Rusk  with  his  main  force  advanced  directly  to- 
ward the  Cherokee  village.  On  reaching  the  Neches  Saline, 
Gen.  Rusk  learned  that  Cordova's  force  had  dissoh^ed  and 
the  leader,  with  a  few  of  the  more  desperate  Cooshaties  and 
Cherokees  and  some  of  his  Mexican  companions,  had  retreat- 
ed in  the  direction  of  the  Kicfcapoo  village  in  the  north- 
eastern comer  of  Anderson  county.  Rusk  followed  him 
there  and,  forty  miles  further  on  to  the  Killough  settlements, 
where  he  abandoniedi  the  chase,  there  being  no  hope  of  over- 
taking the  fugitives. 

Joined  byi  a  few  of  the  Kickapoos  at  their  village,  Cor- 
dova now  made  his  way  to  the  headwaters  of  tjhe  Trinity, 
where  he  continued  his  fiendish  machinationt. 

Thus  the  accidental  circumstance  of  the  search  for  stolen 
horses,  precipitated  a  series  of  events  that  spoiled  his  plans 
for  1838.  No  army  of  invasion  was  moving  from  Mexico. 
Not  evien  Flores  was  at  hand  with  a  force  to  co-operate. 
Yet  the  fierce  anger  of  his  Mexican  fellow  conspirators  at 
the  Americans,  forced  him  to  act,  and  he  did  so  boWly  aakl 
called  upon  the  Cherokees  to  take  the  warpath.     Those  M- 


270  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

dians  had  a  great  deal  at  stake.  They  were,  also,  more  than 
ordinarily  intelligent.  They  saw  that  the  emute  was  prema- 
lure,  amd  would  he  a  failure^ — they  still  hopedi  for  justice 
from  the  Ameirieans.  President  Houston  was  m  Nacogdoches, 
and  they  had  uuibounded  faith  in  the  recititude  of  his  ioiten- 
tions,  and  trusted  that  h^e  had  power  to  give  effect  to  them, 
hence  they  refused  Cordova's  overtures. 


DEFEAT  OF  THE  EICEAFOOS. 

In  the  meantime,  taking  advantage  of  the  disturbed  con- 
ditions in  that  section,  the  Kickapoos  were  depredating  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  call  for  prompt  action.  Accordingly,  with  a 
hastily  collected  company  of  200  volunteers,  General 
Rusk  moved  against  them.  Leaving  Fort  Houston  on  Oct. 
14th,  he  arrived  m  the  vicinity  of  the  Kiekapoo  town  (in  what 
is  now  Anderson  county)  and  at  sunset  on  the  following  day 
made  a  furious  attack.  Aft^r  an  engagement  of  some  fif- 
teen minutes  the  ememy  fled  and  were  hotly  pursued  for 
Borne  distance.  No  official  report  of  this  fight  exists,  hut 
it,  is  known  I  that  eleven  warriors  were  left  dead  on  the  field 
and  presumably  a  mueh  larger  number  were  wounded.  Rusk 
had  eleven  men  wounided  but  none  killed.* 


BOUTING  THE  COMANCHES. 

A  feiw  days  later,  on  th'C  25th  of  this  month,  Col.  John 
C.  Neil  with  his  fo.rce  attacked  a  considerable  party  of  Co- 
manches  at  the  Jose  Maria  Village  (afterwards  the  site  of  Fort 
Graham)  in  Youmg  county.  After  a  fierce  and  bloody  battle, 
the  IndiaiDS  were  defeated  and  fled,  "leaving  many  of  their 
warriors  slain."  The  casualties  to  the  Texans  are  not 
known. 

Such  military  demonstrations  and  summary  deaUngsi  with 
the  eavages  and  Mexicans,  at  least  served  to  overawe  and 
prevent  them  fromi  coambining  in  thedx  raids. 

» Indian  Wnn  nnd  Pioneers  ef  Texas,  p.  107. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  271 

The  citizens  of  Bast  Texas,  with  arms  in  their  hanids  aooA 
embold€n€d,  under  Rusk  and  other  brave  leaders,  had  noth- 
ing to  fear;  welcomed  a  challenge  by  the  Indians  to  mortal 
combat,  and.  were  more  tham  a  match  for  th^ir  hated  foesS- 
But  murders,  such  as  the  Hutchison  massacre ;  the  trag- 
edies in  the  Eden's  settlement,  and  other  atrocious  affair^ 
occurring  in  the  eastern  part  of  t|he  Republic  about  this  pe- 
riod, chilled  their  hearts,  not  with  a  coward's  terror,  but  ans 
appalling  one  nevertheless,  for  thev  realized  that  courage 
and  superior  numbers,  arms  and  discipline,  furnished  no  pro- 
tection, against  their  occurrence.  The  frontiermen  did  not. 
know  but  that,  at  an  unexpected  moment,  death  in  its  most 
appalling  form,  would  obliterate  alll  tihat    they  held  dear. 


BUSK  CHASES  INDIANS  ACROSS  THE  BORDER. 

In  a  dispatch  from  headquarters  at  Fort  Caddo,  Defc> 
1,  1838,  Gen.  Rusk  gave  account  of  crossing  into  Louisiaua 
and  eomptelling  a  large  party  of  Caddo  Indians  to  surrecdei" 
th^eir  arms  to  the  Undted  States  Indian  agent  at  Shreveport 
and  agree  to  remain  quiet  until  the  existing  daaiger  of  hos- 
tilities subsided. 

These  Indians  were  to  be  fed  by  the  Texas  governmeDt; 
until  their  arms  were  returned  to  them.  He  said  that  untiJ 
after  his  arrival  with  militia  and  this  actonj  had  been  takesm 
by  him,  the  people  of  Texas  west  of  the  border-line,  believC'S 
that  the  Caddos  intended  to  march  through  the  settlements  to» 
a  junction  with  tke  prairie  Indians,  and  there,  in  connection 
with  them,  turn  back  and  murder  and  pillage.  The  white? 
people  aibandioned  their  homes  and  assembled  in.  the  forts; 
for  protection. 

It  is  difficult  at  this  day  to  fully  realize  the  excited  aoS 
hostile  state  of  the  public  mind  in  Texas  in  the  latter  part; 
of  1838,  with  regard  to  Indians,  further  than  that  it  was< 
Huch  as  to  wholly  neutralize  every  fact  and  argument  thatt 
was  adduced  in  favor  of  any  ol  them. 


272  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

LAXAB'S  BEION. 

The  general  election  for  President,  Vice-President,  mem- 
bers of  Congreiss  and  other  officers  of  the  Republic  occurred 
September  3,  1838. 

Mirabeau  B.  Lamar,  James  Collinsworth,  Peter  W.  Gray- 
son, tand  Robert  Wilson  were  rival  candidajtes  for  the  pree- 
ideney.  There  were  two  well  defined  political  parties — ^the 
Houston  and  Anti-Houston — that  crystalized  during  the  year. 

The  campaign  was  a  very  bitter  one — so  bitter  that  Gray- 
son shot  and  killed  himself,  at  Bean's  Station,  Tennessee,  and 
Collinsworth  leaped  from  a  steamer  and  drowned  himself  in 
Galveston  Bay  before  the  day  of  eleetion. 

They  were  too  sensitive  and  proud  to  withstand  the  mud- 
slinging  and  vilification  that}  was  indulged  in  ats  a  matter  of 
course  in  that  day  in  Texas,  and  in  the  United  States.  La- 
mar received  6,995  votes  and  Wilson  252, — 300  were  scat- 
tering. 

President  Houston  was  not  a  candidate.  The  constitu- 
tion provided  that  the  first  President  should  hold  office  for 
two  years  and  each  of  his  successors  for  three  years,  and 
that  no  President  should  be  eligibla  for  election  for  the 
term  next  succeediaig  that  for  which  he  was  chosen. 

Mirabeau  B,  Lamar,  as  President,  and  David  G.  Bur- 
aet,   as  Vice-President,   were   inaugurated  December  9,  1838. 

In  his  inaugural  message,  Lamar  declared  that  the  omly 
means  by  which  Indian  hostilitiea  could  be  brought  to  an 
end  were  the  extinction  or  total  expulsion  of  United  States 
Indians  who  were  domiciled  in  Texas.  He  asked  that  im- 
mediate legislative  action  be  taken  for  the  establishment  of 
a  line  of  military  posts  along  the  frontier  and  the  organi- 
zation and  maintenance  of  a  strong  military  force  in  order 
that  the  policy  he  declared  might  be  given  vigorous  and  im- 
EBediate  effect. 

He  declared  that  the  boundaries  of  the  Republic  would 
be  defined  and  made  good  by  the  sword ;  took  ground 
against  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States;  far- 


IJ^a^^^feKM^^ 


ri-^'  ^ 


k^-^"^",/'     t^^'fe'n'*v      ji^iTifl-^ 


: ',.<'- 


■d' 


•>     ^BS^7**M    ^mk't  ^^     .^ft. 


'-astfej) 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  273 

ore<i  the  establishment  of  a  national  baiik ;  and  spoke  noble 
words  in  favor  of  popular  education.* 

■Gen.  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  was  appointed  Secretary 
of  war  Decem'ber  13,  1838,  and  qualified  December  16. 

Conigress  responded  promptly  to  th«  recomendations  of 
the  President,  as  a  majority  of  the  members  had  been  elected 
us  advocates  of  the  principles  and  policies  he  declared. 

It  passed  an  act,  approved  December  21,  that  provided 
for  a  mounted  regiment  of  840  men  rank  and  file  to  protect 
the  frontier,  and  for  the  establishment  of  the  line  of  posts 
proposed.  The  men  were  to  be  enlisted  for  three  years,  to  be 
paid  $16.00  per  month  and  be  given  a  bounty  of  $30.00  in 
money  and  a  certificate  for  land. 

An  act  approved  Deeemiber  29,  provided  for  a  corps  of 
mounted  rangers,  to  consist  of  eight  companies  of  fifty-nine 
men  (rank  and  file)  each.** 

All  spoils  that  were  captured  (except  recovered  property 
of  citizens  of  Texas)  were  to  be  divided  among  the  captors. 
Troops  who  were  already  enlisted,  under  act  of  May  15,  1838, 
were  to  proceed  forthwith  to  the  Nueces. 

A  few  days  later  an  act  wis  passed  and  approved,  that 
provided  for  a  nuranted  regiment  of  472  men  to  serve  for  six 
aionths. 

Despite  all  measures  and  every  effort  to  keep  the  In- 
dians in  subjection  and  to  prevent  or  intercept  their  hos- 
tile raidk,  depredations>  and  murders  increased  to  an  alarm- 
ing extent.  The  elouds  of  despair  were  gathering  and  soon 
hung  heavy  all  along  the  frontier.  As  Gen,  K.  H.  Doug- 
las wrote  Secretary  of  War  Johnston,  on  Dec.  30,  1838,  "the 

» During  his  term  fifty  leasruea  of  land  were  set  apart  for  the  eBtabliahment  of  a 
university  and  three  leagues  to  each  county  for  school  purposes. 

»  »The  followingr  number  of  men  were  to  be  stationed  at  the  localities  mentioned:  At. 
or  near.  Red  River,  56;  At.  oi  near,  the  Three  Forks  of  Ihe  Trinity,  168;  at.  or  near,  the 
Brazos,  112;  at.  or  near,  the  Colorado.  112;  at,  or  near,  the  San  Marcos,  56;  at,  or  near,  the 
Cibolo.  56;  at,  or  near,  the  Frio.  56;  and  at.  or  near,  the  Nuece«.  12  J.  A  strongly  garri- 
soned post  was  to  be  established  at  the  upper  settlements  on  Red  River.  The  regiments 
were  to  be  divided  into  two  battalions.  on»  of  which  was  to  operate  east  of  and  the  other 
west  of  the  Colorado.  A  military  road  was  to  be  constructed  from  the  mouth  of  the  Kia- 
asitia  to  the  point  where  the  regular  highway  from  San  Antonio  to  the  Presidi*  d«  Ri» 
Grande  crossed  the  Nueces. 


274 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 


affairs  of  the  Texas  frontier  were  n^ver  in  so  critical  a  con- 
.dition. ' ' 

Thus  the  catalogue  grows  in  volume  and  intensity,  with 
tragic  episodes  that  would  extend  many  pages,  did  the  lim- 
its of  this  volume  permit.  Thiit  which  follows,  and  especial- 
ly matters  transpiring  within  the  next  two  y^ars — during 
President  Lamar's  turbulent  reign — presents  a  still  darker 
and  sadder  picture  of  pioneer  life  and  border  trials  in  Tex- 
as. And  yet,  to  him  who  can  see  beneath  the  surface  of 
history  the  mighty  forces  that  are  the  soul  of  it,  the  records 
of  1838  are  full  of  interest  and  food  for  pleasant  reflection ; 
of  interest  because  it  exhibits  the  growth  of  a  healthy  and 
complex  social  orgaaization,  and  food  for  pleasant  reflection 
for  the  reason  that  it  justifies  the  heV^l  that  such  growth 
is  normal  under  free  institutions  such  as  the  pioneers  and 
partiot  fathers  of  Texas  established  and  partially  developed 
under  such  confusing,  adverse  and  painful  conditions.* 

♦  An  important  event  affecting  the  affairs  of  the  Texas  Republic  during  this  year 
was  the  death  of  Gen.  John  A.  Wharton— an  irreparable  loss  from  the  ranks  of  the  great 
men  of  early  Texas— a  man  whom  Judge  Burnett  in  a  memorial  oration  pronounced  "?he 
keenest  blade  on  the  field  of  San  Jacinto." 

Another  important  matter  was  the  creating  of  a  navy  for  the  Republic.  Septem- 
ber 17, 1838,  Samuel  M.  Williams  entered  into  a  contract  for  Frederick  Dawson  to  furnish 
Texas  with  the  new  navy,  provided  for  by  act  of  November  4,  1837,  Dawson  to  receive  as 
payment  two  bonds  of  the  Republic  for  $280,000  each. 


This  is  a  photograph  of  the  pistol  that  Euclid  M.  Cox,  mortajly  wounded  in  the  Bat- 
tle Creek  Fight,  sent  home  to  his  wife. 


CHAPTER  Xn. 


OND^ITKONS  on  the  Indian  frKxntier  at  the 
beginning  of  1839  were  particularly  threat- 
ening.    Since  1831  the  Unitedi  States  gov- 
ernment had  steadily  pursued  a  policy  of  re- 
moving Indians  from  their  ancestral  homes 
in  the  "states"  to  the  district  beween  the 
Arkansas,  Red  River  and  the  False  Wasih- 
ita  along  the  boundary  line  of    Texas    and 
IMexico.    It  was  estimated    that    in    a  short 
time  there  would  be    concentrated    on    the 
frontiers    of    Texas    240,000  of    these    Indians,    including 
about  45,000  warriors,  some  of  whom  would  be  certain  to  make 
thieving  and  murderous  incursions  unless  prevented. 

The  Texas  Indians  were  restless  and  most  of  them  hostile. 
It  was  believed  that  the  agricultuiral  tribes  located  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  Republic  were  co-operating  with  the  prai- 
rie Indians,  and  it  was  known  that  some  sort  of  conspiracy 
was  being  hatched  between  the  Mexicans  and  Indians  to  make 
a  more  united  and  determined  effort  to  prevent  extension  of 
the  frontiers  into  the  Indian  country  and  to  retard  settle- 
ment and,  if  possible,  to  nDake  Texas  untenable  and  undesir- 
able to  its  Anglo-American  inhabitants.  The  Comanehes  were 
at  war  with  the  Lipans  and  Tonka  was.  The  latter  circum- 
stance was  a  favorable  one  for  the  whites,  as  the  Lipans  and 
Tonkawas  joined  with  them  against  the  Comanches — the  Li- 
pang  for  the  most  part  pitching  their  camps  within  the  set- 
tlements. 


276  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

THE  MORGAN  MASSACRE. 

And  now  we  will  chronicle  some  of  the  events  occurring 
in  the  course  of  border  warfare  history.  The  narrative  of 
pathetic  scenes  immediately  following  are  true  as  to  details 
and  not  overdrawn  as  to  extent  of  fiendish  atrocity.  The 
account  of  these  atrocious  crimes  was  prepared  by  Jolm 
Henry  Brown  from  data  furnished'  by  surviving  participants 
and  firs't  published  in  an  issue  of  the  old  Texas  Almanac 
more  than  half  a  century  ago.  We  follow  Brown  in  sub- 
stance : 

On  the  east  side  of  the  Brazos,  near  tfhe  "Falls,"  the  Mor- 
gans and  Marlins,  somewhat  intermarried,  constiliuted  sever- 
al families  residing  a  few  miles  apart,  some  albove  and  some 
a  little  below  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Marlin.  There 
was  a  considerable  siettlement  along  the  river  for  some 
twenty  'miles,  bait  the  country  'beyond  or  above  them  was 
open  to  the  Indians.  The  period  to  which  referen/ce  is  made 
was  the  winter  of  1888-39. 

On  Sunday  night,  the  1st  day  of  January,  1839,  a  part 
of  the  famdlies  of  James  Marlin  and  Mrs.  Jones,  and  the 
family  of  Jackson  Morgan,  were  together,  passinig  the  night 
with  the  family  of  George  Morgan,  at  what  is  now  called  Mor- 
gan's Point,  six  miles  above  the  town  of  Marlin.  The  remain- 
der of  the  divided  families  were  at  the  house  of  John  Marlin, 
seven  miles  lower  down  the  rdver.  John  and  James  Marlin 
were  brothers;  the  others  of  that  name  were  their  children. 

A  little  after  dark  the  house  of  George  Morgan  was  sud- 
denly surrounded!  andi  attacked  by  Indians,  who  instantly 
rushed  in  upon  the  inmates,  giving  them'  no  time  for  defense. 
Old  Mr.  Geoi^ge  Morgan  and  wife,  their  grandlson,  Jackson 
Jones,  Jackson  Morgan's  wife,  and  Misa  Adeline  Marlin,  a 
young  lady  of  sixteen,  were  all  tomahawked  and  scalped  in 
the  houj&e  within  the  space  of  a  few  miinuteis  after  the  first 
alarm.  Miss  Stacy  Ann  Marlin  (afterwards  the  wife  of  Wil 
liam  Morgan)  was  severely  wounded  and  left  for  dead.  Three 
childtren  were  in  the  yard  playing  when  the  attack  waa  made. 
One  of  these,  Isaac  Marlin,    ten  years  of  age,  secreted  him- 


BORDEE  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  277 

self  under  the  fence,  and  there  remaiU'ed  untal  the  tragedy  was 
over.  Another  child,  Wesley  Jones,  at  on<;e  ran  into  the 
hofuse,  but  seeing-  th^e  Imddans  entering  and  tomahawking  th€ 
inmateB,  ran  out  unobserved  by  the  murderous  demons,  and 
was  followed  by  ]\Iary  Marlin,  another  child.  They  both  es- 
caped together.  The  wounded  lady  retaining  consciousness, 
feigned  death,  but  was  not  scalped  as  all  the  others  were. 
The  Indians  robbed  the  house  of  its  contents  and  left.  When 
they  had)  gone,  and!  silence  again  reigned,  the  heroic  child 
first  mentioned,  Isaac  Marlin — his  name  should  be  immortal- 
ized— crept  from  his  hiding-place,  and  entering  the  house 
carefully  and  silently,  examined  the  bodies  to  find  which 
were  dead.  His  wounded  sister,  supposing  him  to  be  an  In- 
dian, remained  perfectly  motionlesis  until  he  had  gone,  wihen 
she  crawled  out  of  the  house.  Little  Isaac  then  took  the  path 
leading  to  John  Marlin 's,  and  ran  the  entire  distance,  seven 
miles,  very  quickly, — a  swift  messenger  of  death  Wo  his  kin- 
dred there  assembled.  Wesley  Jones  'and  Mary  Marlin  did 
not  get  in  till  daylight,  and  the  wounded  Miss  Marlin  not 
till  noon  the  next  day. 

As  soon  as  little  Isiaiac  arrived  at  John  Marlin 's  house 
and  narrated  his  pathetic  story,  that  gentleman,  his  brother, 
James,  Williami  N.  P.,  and  Wilson  Marlin,  Jackson  and  Geo. 
W.  Morgan,  andl  Albert  G.  Gholson,  immediately  hastened 
to  the  scene,  and  found  the  facts  identical  with  the  child's 
narration.  Other  relief  arrived  next  day,  and  the  dead  were 
consigned  to  their  graves  amid  the  wailings  of  their  grief- 
stricken  relatives  and!  friends. 


ATTACK  ON  MARLINS  HOUSE. 

Ten  daj's  later,  the  Indians,  about  seventy  in  num- 
ber attacked  the  house  of  John  Marlin  and  his  son 
Benjamin  (whose  descendants  still  reside  in  Milam  coun- 
ty>  and  of  Jarett  Menefee  and  his  son  Thomas.  This 
time  the  whites  were  better  prepared  for  defeaise.  The  In- 
dians charged  upon  the  four  men,  who  made  a  stout  and  gal- 
lant fight,  killing  seven  Indians  and  wounding  others  with- 


278 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 


out  receiving  any  injury-  themi&elves.  Tired  of  that  kind  of 
reoeption,  tbe  savages  sooni  withdrew,  carrying  off  their  dead 
and  wound'ed.  "When  the  attack  was  made,  Menefee's  negro 
man,  "Hinchey,"  was  at  a  short  distance  from  the  house, 
but  failing  to  reach  it  in  time,  he  left  in  douible-quick  time 
■for  the  settlements  below,  and  made  twenty-five  miles  in 
pretty  fair  saddle-horse  time.  "Hinchey"  at  once  reported 
the  attack,  and  a  company  was  quickly  gathered  together, 
who  lost  no  time  in  repairing  to  the  sicene  of  action,  in  order 
to  relieve  their  besieged  friends,  but  found  the  red-skins 
had  retreated,  as  before  stated. 


I  BRYANT'S  FIOHT  AND  DEFEAT. 

It  was  determined,  however,  after  a  discussion  of  the 
matter  by  those  present,  that  they  must  pursue  and  fight 
the  Indians,  or  abandon  their  homes  and  fall  back  into  the 
more  settled  parts  of  the  country.  They  chose  the  former 
alternative,  and  made  their  dispositions  accordingly.  The  ef 
fective  force  available  for  pursuit  was  forty-eight  men. 
Benjamim  Bryant  (of  Bryant's  Station,  whose  surviving  fam- 
ily" still  reside  in  Milam  county)  was  chosen  to  command. 

On  the  next  morning  Bryant's  party  took  the  trail  of 
the  enemy,  and  pursued,  crossing  the  Brazos  near  Morgan's 
Point.  On  the  west  side  they  found  a  deserted  camp  with 
fresJi  signs,  and  about  a  mile  ;0ut  came  upon  a  fresh  trail. 
At  the  river  they  counted  sixty-four  fresh  horse-tracks  and 
a  trail  of  foot  lu'dians,  which  crossed  the  river.  Seeing  the 
prairie  on  fire  below,  they  supposed  it  to  be  Marlin's  house, 
and  hastened  back,  without  finding  the  enemy,  and  then 
halted  for  the  night.  On  the  next  morning,  January  16, 
they  started'  ouit  again,  and  found  that  the  Indians  had  been 
ati  the  deserted  houses  twoi  miles  above  and  plundered 
them.  Thence  they  traveled'  up  six  miles  to  Morgan's  Point, 
and  suddtenly  discovered  the  enemy  in  the  open  timber 
near  a  dry  branch,.  The  noted  chief,  Jose  Maria,  who  was 
riding  in  front  in  perfect  nonchalance,  halted,slipped  off  his 
gloves,  and,  taking  dieliberate  aim,  fired  at  Joseph    Boren, 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  279 

"who  was  a  few  feet  in  advance,  cutting  his  coait-sleeve.  Jose 
Maria  then  gave  the  signal  for  his  men  to  fire,  and  the  action 
commenced.  Bryant  o.rd«red  a  charge,  which  was  gallantly 
made,  though  the  captain  received  a  wound  at  the  same  in- 
stant, which  accident  called  Ethan  Stroud  to  the  command. 

The  Indaauis  fired  and  fell  back  into  the  ravine.  Simul- 
taneous with  the  charge,  David  W.  Campbell  fired  at  Jo»e 
Maria,  the  ball  strikinsg  hian  on  the  breajst-<bone,  but  failing 
to  dismount  him.  Albert  G.  Gholson  then  shot  the  chief's 
horse,  which  died'  in  the  ravine.  The  Texans  then  charged 
up  to  the  bend  oi.  the  ravine  and  fired,  when  the  Indians 
commenced  retreating  down  the  bed  of  the  ravine  towards  a 
densely  timbered  bottom.  Seeing  this,  a  part  of  the  whitea 
rushed  down  below  to  cut  Hhem  off.  This  caused  the 
enemy  tO'  return  to  the  first  positjion  and  renew  the  defense, 
by  which  time,  supposing  the  day  to  be  won,  our  men  had 
somewhat  scattered  and  were  acting  each  for  hiamself.  The 
result  w^as  that  wh^n  the  enemy  reopened  the  fire  several 
were  wounded,  and  confusion  and  disorder  at  once  ensued. 
To  remedy  this,  the  men  were  ordered  to  retreat  to  another 
point  some  two  hundred  yards  distant,  in  order  to  draw  the 
Indians  from  their  concealment.  This  unfortunate  order, 
from  the  prevailing  confusion,  was  understood  by  some  of 
the  men  to  be  an  unqualified  retreat.  Panic  seized  some  of 
tbem,  which  beiuig  discovered  by  the  wily  Jose  Maria,  he 
gave  the  commandi  andJ  charged  in  full  force,  making  the 
welkin  ring  with  hideous  and  exultant  yells.  Several  of  the 
whites  fell,  and  the  rout  norw  became  general.  Without  or- 
der, in  utter  confusion,  and  each  man  acting  for  himself, 
they  were  hotly  pursued  for  four  miles,  their  pursuers  deal- 
ing death  and  carnage  among  them. 

In  the  disiast'^r  some  acts  were  performed  which  deserve 
mention.  David  W.  Campbell,  not  at  first  observing  the  re- 
treat, was  about  being  surrounded  by  the  savages  when  the 
brave  Captain  Eli  Chandler,  already  mounted,  rushed  to  his 
relief  and  took  him  up  behind  him.  Young  Jackson  Powers, 
missing  his  horse,  mounted  on  a  pony  behind    William    Mc- 


280  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Grew,  hoR  arm  hieing  broken  at  the  same  moment,  as  he  was 
letreating.  His  brother  "William  came  up  at  this  moment, 
moTinted  on,  a  large  horse,  and  requested  him  to  leave  the 
pony  and  ride  behind'  him.  Poor  f e'llow !  he  dismounted,  but, 
from  his  broken  arm  and  the  reJ^tlessness  of  the  horse,  he 
was  unaible  to  mount  before  the  Indians  had  rushed  up  and 
tomahawked-  him,  his  brother  only  leaving  him  just  in  time 
to  save  his  own  life.  William  N.  P.  Marlin,  before  the  re- 
treat, was  so  severely  woundiid  in  the  hip  thait  he  could  mot 
mount,  and'  was  about  being  left,  when  David  Cobb  ran  up 
2lnd  threw  him  on  his  horse  amid  a  shower  of  balls  and 
arrows.  Wilson  Reed,  a  daring  fellow,  in-  the  retreat  was 
knocked  from  his  horse  by  the  projecting  limb  of  a  tree,  the 
enemy  being  close  at  hand,  whpn  he  sang  out  in  a  half-mirth- 
ful tone,  **0h,  Loird,  boys,  Mary  Ann  is  a  widow!"  but 
some  brave  fellow  picilaed  him  up  and  carried  him  safely  off. 
The  loiss  of  the  white®  in  this  fight  was  ten  killed  and  five 
woundied.  The  loss  of  the  Indians  was  about  the  same 
number;  but  they  were  greatly  elated  by  their  suc- 
cess,* and  became  more  daii  ag  than  ever  until  checked 
by  that  stubborn  antl  destructive  engagement,  known  as 
''Bird's  Victory,"  in  Bell  county. 


FATE  OF  THE  WEBSTER  FAMILY. 

In  January  the  famiily  of  James  Webster  and  twelve 
men  who  W'ere  escorlting  them  to  their  hoime  in  what  is  now 
Williamson  county,  were  atftacked  by  Comanches  on  the  San 
Gabrieil.  The  white  men  formed  their  wagons  in  a  hol- 
low square,  and  fought  from  sunrise  until  10  o'cloick  a,  m., 
when  the  last  of  them  were  slain.  Mrs,  Webster  and  little 
daughter  were  made  captives.     She  escaped  with  her  child 

♦Jose  Maria,  so  long  the  dread  of  the  frontier,  but  afterwards  the  most  pacific  and 
civilized  Comanche  chief  on  the  government  reserve,  has  always  acknowledged  that  he 
was  whipped  and  retreating  until  he  obscrred  the  panic  and  confusion  among  the  Texani. 
Jose  Maria  visited  Bryant's  Station  years  afterwards  and  offered  Bryant  his  pipe  to  smoke. 
Bryant  insisted  that  Jose  Maria  should  smoke  first,  as  he  had  won  the  fight,  and  the  old 
chief  proudly  followed  the  suggestion. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  281 

taearly  ijwo  years  later,  and!  reached  San  Antonio  a  tew 
days  after  the  Council  House  figiht. 

During  January,  Ben  and  Henry  McCuUoch,  Wilson 
Randle,  David'  Henson  and  John  Walfen,  accoimi>ained!  by 
thirty-fivie  Tonkawas,  defeaited  a  hand  af  Coraaniches  and 
Wacos  on  Peach  Creek,  ini  Gonzales  countjy,  killing  five 
and  wounding  a  considierahle  number.  The  only  loss  sus- 
tained by  the  attacking  party  was  one  Tonkawia  killed. 

In  the  same  month  a  company  of  land  locaters  re- 
treated from  Uvalde  Canyon  to  avoid,  beinig  surrounded  by 
Comau'ches  who  threatened  to  attack  them.  In  d<oing  so  th>ey 
were  opposed  by  a  small  parity  <oi  Indians  stationed'  at  the 
mouth  of  tihe  gorge,  but  charged  and  routed  them,  killing 
three  or  four,  and  returned  to  San  Antonio  without  loss. 


FAMOUS  BIRD  CREEK  BATTLE. 

This  bloody  engiaigement  ranks  as  one  ef  the  notable  In- 
dian battles  of  Texas,  aai'd  may  be  well  termed  a  model 
fight  between  Rangers  and  Ccmanches.  The  narrative 
which  follows  is  ibelieved  to  be  substantdally  correct,  haviag 
been  carefully  prepared  from  statementis  and'  notes  furnish- 
ed by  participants  and  others  of  authority. 

On  Sunday  morning.  May  27,  1839,  the  intrepid  Cap- 
tain John  Bird,  one  of  the  early  ranger  chiefs  of  Texas,  with 
a  company  of  31  rangers,  well  mounted  and  equipped,  left 
Fort  Milami  at  the  "Falls"  of  llhe  Brazos,  on  a  seouting  ex- 
pedition against  the  depredating  bands  of  Indians  who  were 
constantly  making  forays  Uipon  the  unprotected  settlements 
around  Fort  Griffin  on  Little  River,  which  was  aA  that  time 
on  the  extreme  frontier  of  Texas  in  that  direction) — the  Bry- 
ants, Marlins,  ]\lorgans  and  a  few  others  on  the  Brazos  be- 
ing their  nearest  neighbors.  Capt.  Bird  arrived  at  Fort  Grif- 
fin at  1  o'clock  in  the  afternoen  of  the  same  day,  and  at  once 
learned  that  Indians'  htad  been  seen  near  the  fort  bu/t  a  few 
hours  before  his  arrival. 

Without  dismounting,  the  rangers  proccededj  to  the 
point  where   the   Indians  had  been   seen.    After  a   hurried 


282  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Bsrarch  of  som^e  five  males  upon  the  freshly  made  trail,  they 
suddenly  caiiDe  upon  27  Comanches,  dismounted  anid  busy 
butchering  buffalos.  As  the  rangers  ehanged  dowm  upon  the 
unsuspecting  redskins  they  quickly  mounted  aaid  fled  in 
different  directions,  the  rangers  following  hard  after  the 
main  body.  After  a  flight  of  some  three  miles,  the  Indians 
again  came  together  and  forming  in  battle  array,  confronted 
their  pursuers,  ready  for  a  fight.  The  rangers  ajgain^  charged 
upon  them  and  after  a  sbnarp  skirmisU  put  the  Indians  to 
flight,  pursuing  them  for  several  miles  but  "without  again 
overtaking  or  enigaging  them. 

The  lenenuy  luaving  scattered  in  various  directions  ainid 
the  horses  of  the  rangaris  being  considerably  jaded,  the 
chase  was  given  up.  But  as  the  rangers  were  returning  to 
the  fort,  aiid;  just  ais  they  were  emergio.g  from  a  skirt  of  tim- 
ber on  the  south  side  of  a  small  stream,  since  called 
Birds  Creek,  and  at  a  point  some  sevens  miiles  northeast  oi 
the  presemt  town  of  Belton,  they  were  surprised  and  al- 
most surrounded  by  about  forty  Indians,  who  shot  their 
arrows  at  them  from  every  direction.  The  rangers  dashed 
out  of  the  ambush  and  made  for  a  ravine  some  600  yards  in 
front,  where,  fortunately,  there  was  a  spring,  w'hich  they 
succeeded  in^  reaching,  despite  the  determiu'ed  effio»rts  made 
by  the  savages  to  cut  them  off.  The  Indians  now  retired  to 
the  crest  of  a  hill  about  300  yards  distant!,  and  where  a 
"council"  of  war"  was  held  and  "signal  smokes" — the  In- 
dian mode  of  telegraphing — sent  up  and  answered  from  sev- 
eral directions.  The  little  company  of  ranigers  now  well 
knew  the  Indians  would  soon  be  reinforced  and  tluat  the  red 
devils  would  then  swoop  down  upon  them  in  large  numbers. 
Orders  were  given  and  prejprations  were  hurriedly  made  to 
defend  their  position,  and,  if  finally  overpowered  with  num- 
bers, to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible^ — ^those  anust;  have 
been  critical  miomenrts. 

In  about  half  an  hour  the  rangers  saw  a  larg-e  body  of 
mounted  warriors  rapidly  approaching  in  the  direction  of  their 
confederaties,  and  in  a  few  minutes  th^e  hiil  tojp  seemed  to  be 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  283 

literally  alive  with  painted'  demons.  Increased  to  about  300 
in  numib-ers,  and  led  iby  the  noted  Comanche  waa*  chief,  Buf- 
falo Hump,  the  Indians  now  arrayed  theanselveg  in  imposing 
battle  order,  and  with  some  semblance  of  militaiy  display, 
while  tihe  chief,  bedecked  with  his  immense  and  grotesque 
buffalo  hide  war  bonnet  surmounted  with  horns,  rode  up 
and  down  the  lines,  giving  orders  and  defiantly  gesticulat- 
ing and  pointing  toward  th-e  enemy.  The  Indians  were  con- 
fident of  victory.  The  little  band  of  rangers  were  cool  and 
determined,  but  the  odds  were  fearfiil. 

Raising  the  Oocmanche  war  whoop  all  along-  their  lines, 
the  savaga  red  warriors  charged  down  upon  the  whites  in 
the  ravine,  uttering  the  m'Ost  unearthly  and  exultant  yells 
that  ever  greeted  the  ears  of  mortals,  and  at  the  same  time 
pouring  in  a  regular  deluge  of  arrows.  The  brave  rangers 
were  cool  and  steady  and  gave  them  a  most  deadly  reception, 
causing  a  noim'ber  to  reel  and  tnmible  from  their  mounts,  and 
the  balance  to  retire  to  the  hill  top  without  carrj-ing  off 
their  dead  and  wounded.  Again  the  enemy  charged,  in  bold 
order,  this  time  advancing  to  wiifchan  fifty  yards  of  the  rav- 
vine,  but  under  the  galling  fire  of  the  rangers,  they  were 
again  forced  to  beat  a  retreart,  leaving  a  number  of  their 
braves  upon  the  field.  Once  more,  but  somewhat  less  exul- 
tant, they  were  led  in  a  charge,  to  sustain  loss  and  be  forced 
back. 

Thus  chargined  and  discomfited,  the  maddened  red  war- 
riors reitired  in  a  ibodiy  from  the  hill  top  and  out  of  sight — 
to  council  and  plan  for  another  and  more  effective  attack. 
Meanwhile  the  little  band  of  dauntless  rangers  were  busy, 
comifortirig  their  w^ounded,  improving  their  position  and  pre- 
paring as  best  they  could  for  another  onslaught,  which  they 
well  knew  would  be  made. 

Ere  long  the  Indians  again  appeared,  this  time  in  two 
circling  companies,  and  immediately  bore  down  and  around 
in  a  fiercer  attack  upon  the  rangers  than  ever,  this  time  clos- 
ing in  from  either  side,  determined  to  rout  the  little  comx>any 
of  whites  from  thedr  poaition  and  to  annihilate  them  at  all 


284  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

hazards.  The  strife  now  became  fearful  and  deadly.  Th-e 
gallant  little  troop  of  rangers  in  the  ravine  fouight  for  life, 
andi  taxed'  their  energies  to  the  utmost.  It  was  indieedi  a  ter- 
rible battle  against  fearful  odds. — victory  trembled  in  the 
balance — t;he  rangers  despaired  but  were  determined  toJBigiht 
till  the  last  breath.  The  red'  warriors  were  loudly  exhorted, 
and  repeatedly  charged  almost  to  the  brink  of  thie  ravine, 
but  were  as  'often  forced  back  by  the  deadly  aim  of  the  rang- 
er rifles.  The  field  was  an  almost  open  prairie,  with  but  lit- 
tle to  shield  the  contending  foes  against  the  shower  of  ar- 
rows, and  the  le.aden  liail  which  were  incessantly  being  sent. 
The  noble  Capitain  Bird  was  killed'  early  in  the  fight,  and  six 
other  rangers  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  remainder,  now 
reduced'  to  only  25  in  number,  and  exhausted  by  the  fierce 
and  protracted  contest,  seemed  doomed  to  almost  certain  des- 
truction, when  brave  James  Robinett,  a  young  German,  and 
upon  whom  the  coaimiand  now  devolved,  swore  to  his  com- 
rr4.des  that  he  would  kill  the  chief  in  the  next  charge,  at  the 
risk  of  his  own  life.  Robinett  had  not  long  to  wait  before 
the  Indians  again  charged,  led  by  their  brave  chief.  Ini  his 
full  war  toggery,  and  mounted  on  a  splendid  American  horse, 
he  presented  a  conspicuous  mark.  Taking  deliberate  aiim 
Robinett  fired,  and,  true  to  his  vow,  succeeded  in  killing  the 
chief.  His  lifeless  body  was  immediately  suirrounded  by  ten 
or  a  dozen  braves,  who  bore  it  out  of  sight,  leaving 
tiieir  now  infuriated  comrjides  to  avenge  his  death,  and 
for  a  time  the  battle  continued,  to  rage,  the  rangers  holding 
their  positioui  and  successfully  repulsiing  each  furious  assault 
Finally,  night  coming  on,  the  savages  sullenly  retired 
to  their  hill  top  position, — having  sustained!  fearful  loss  in 
both  men  and  horses^ — Nathaniel  Brookshire  in  an  official  re- 
port of  this  affair.  May  31,  1839,  says  the  supposed  num- 
ber of  Indians  killed  on  the  field  was  only  thirty.  Later  evi- 
dtnce  however  proved  that  to  be  incorrect.  The  number  slain 
was  not  less  than  fifty  warriors.  Tlie  rangers  lost  five  of  their 
number  killed' — their  lamented  captain,  and  Privates  Gales, 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  285 

Nash,  Weaver,  and  one  ot^her  whose  name  has  not  been  giv- 
en— two  or  three  wo'und'ed. 

Exhausted,  and  fearing  the  Indaaois'  lay  in  wait  nearby, 
the  rangers  remained  under  cover  of  t-he  ravine  till  morning, 
when  they  mounted  their  horses  which  had  fortunately  been 
secured  and  held  in  the  ravine,  and  ventured  fo.rth,  hastily 
making  their  way  back  to  Fort  Griffin.  The  story  -of  the 
sanguinary  eaugagemtent  and  the  fate  of  their  brave  com- 
rades was  soon  told.  A  runner  was)  sent  to  Fort  Milam  for 
reinforcements,  and  with  a  rough  coffin  which  'hfad  been  pre- 
pared, the  fresh  force  repaired  to  the  battle-ground.  Captain 
Bird  and  his  unfoirtuniate  comrades  were  placed  in  the  huge, 
luicouth  recaptacle  and  borne  back  by  a  detachment  to  the 
fort,  where  they  were  buried,  while  the  main  force  took  up 
the  trail  of  the  enemy  and  followed  in  hot  pursuit  as  far  as 
"Stampede  Creek"  where,  having  halted  for  a  short  rest, 
their  horses  were  stampeded  about  midmigbt,  leaving  the 
rangers  afoot,  w'hich  circumstance  gave  name  to  the  stream. 

Old  settlers  iteil  of  often  visiting  the  scene  of  the  Birds 
Creek  battle;  of  gathering  flint  arrow  points,  and  of  view- 
ing numerous  bullet  holes  in  the  scattering  trees.  But 
the  battle  ground  is  now  enclosed  in  a  farm,  and  all  evidence 
of  the  desperate  struggle  has  long  since  disappeared,  save 
the  little  spring  in  the  ravine  which  still  bubbles  forth  its 
sweet,  sparkling,  waters,  as  on  that  memoraible  May  day  sev- 
enty odd  years  ago,  when  it  slaked  the  thirst  of  the  besieged 
rangers  and  eooled  the  fevered  brown  and  erisipinig  lips  of 
their  dying  comrades — murmuring  an  eternal  requiem  to  the 
memory  of  those  who  so  nobly  peris'hed  to  protect  others  and 
thus  aid  dn  redeeming  a  fair  land  from'  savagery.  The  site 
of  old  Fort  Griffin  is  yet  known,  but  the  exact  resting  place 
of  the  hroNe  Captain  Bird  and  his  comrades  has  been  lost. 
A  more  patriotic  duty  could  not  be  preformed'  by  the  citizeoia 
of  grand  old  Bell  county  than  to  erect  at  some  point  a  suit- 
able shaft  to  the  memory  of  these  failen  heroea.  , 


286  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

McCULLOOH'S    PEACH  CREEK  FIGHT. 

About  the  first  o|  MarcE^  immediately  following  the  not- 
able "cold  eniap"*  prevalent  throughout  southwest  Texas 
during  tjhe  latter  half  of  February,  1839,  Ben  MeCulloch  and 
Henry  E.  McCulloeh,  with  Wilson  Randel,  David  Han- 
son, John  D,  Walfin,  and  thirty-five  Tonkawa  warriors — 
under  the  immediate  command  of  their  trusty  old  chief,  *'Capt. 
Jim  Kerr"  (a  name  assumed  through  friendship  fior  pioneer 
James  Kerr  lof  DeWitt  Colony,  in  1826),  left  the  Tonkawa 
village  at  the  junction  of  Peach  and.  Sandy  Creeks,  some  fif- 
teen mileis  northeast  of  Gronzales,  on  a  campaign  tio  the  moun- 
tains'— hoping  to  find  in  a  winter  camp  and  possibly  rescue, 
the  Putman  children  and  Matilda  Lockhart. 

In  the  morning'  of  the  second)  day  out,  andi  some  twenty- 
five  miles  higher  up  on  the  head  waters  of  PeachJ  Creek, 
"they  struck  a  fresh  trail  of  foot  Indians,  bearing  directly 
for  Gonzales.  This,  of  course,  changed  their  plans.  Duty 
to  their  threatened  neighbors  demandled  that  they  should  fol- 
low and  break  up  this  invading  party;  for  such  inroads  by 
foot  Indians  akoiost  invariably  resulted  in  the  loss  of  numer- 
ous horses,  andl  one  or  more — alas !  sometimes  many — lives  to 
the  settlers." 

After  a  hasty  pursuit  of  threle  or  four  hours,  the  inva- 
ders, a  party  of  thirteen  Waco  and  Comanche  warriors,  were 
sighted,  but  quickly  disappeared  into  a  dense  thicket  bor- 
dering a  branch.  As  a  last  resort  to  dislodge  or  engage 
the  enemy,  the  Tonkawa  allies  were  stationed  around  the 
lower  end  of  the  thicket,  with  orders  to  intercept  all  retreat, 
whUe  Ben  andj  Henry  MeCulloch,  witih  Randel  and  Hanson, 
ventured  into  the  ambuscade.  ''Slow'ly  they  moved,  observ- 
ing every  precaution  till,  one  by  one,  each  of  the  four  had 
killed  an  Indian,  and  two  or  three    others    were    wounded." 


♦  This  destructive  sleet  was  the  heaviest  and  most  prolonged  ever  known  in  that 
partof  the  country-continuing  for  ten  or  twelve  days,  while  the  ice  and  snow  shielded 
from  the  sun,  lay  upon  the  ground  for  a  much  longer  period.  Great  trees  were  bereft  of 
limbs  BBd  tops  by  the  immenBe  weight  of  ice.  and  bottoms  previously  open  were  simply 
choked  to  impassability  by  the  fallen  timbers. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  287 

Finally  tlie  survivors  ean.erged  into  the  branch,  and  proiteet- 
ed  somewhat  hy  ks  banks,  fled  down  and  into  a  larger  and 
almost  iompenetrablie  thi<;ket.  Thus  foiled,  and  night  coming 
on,  the  attack  was  not  resum'cd. 

Though  having  lost  one  of  their  comrades  in  the  figiht, 
the  Tonkawas  were  elated  over  the  victory,  and  after 
scalping  the  dead  andi  dydng  Wacos  and  Comanches,  cutting 
off  their  hands,  feet,  arms  and  legs,  and  fleecing  strips  of 
flesh  from  tiheir  thiglis  and  breast,  they  were  ready  and 
anxious  to  return  to  their  village  and  engage  in  their  usual 
cannibal-like  and  mij^stic  war  dance.  This,  of  course,  pre- 
vented, further  operations,   and  here  the  expedition  ended. 

COL.  MOORE'S  SA,N  SABA  FIGHT. 

Capt.  John  H.  Moore,  writing  from  LaiGrange,  March  10, 
made  the  foUofwing  official  report*  of  a  battle  fought  with 
the  Comanches  February  15,  1839: 

"I  herewith  transmit  the  muster  rolls  of  throve  volunteer 
companies  which,  in  conformity  to  the  act  of  Congress  au- 
thorizing tihe  raising  of  volunteer  companies  for  the  protee- 
tion  of  the  frontier,  were  organi&ed  on  the  25th  of  Janua- 
ry last,  at  the  upper  siettlements  of  the  Colorado'  anid  placed 
under  my  command  to  proceed  against  the  Comanches  on 
our  northwestern  frontier. 

''From  this  plaice  we  proceeded  on  the  morning  of  the 
26th  directly  up  the  Oolorado.  On  the  13th  of  February, 
our  spies,  who  from  the  mouth  of  the  Llano  had  been  kept 
in  advance,  returned  and  reported  that  they  had  discovered 
an  encampment  or  village  of  Comanches  on  a  small 
stream  called  Spring  Creek,  in  the  vaUey  of  the  San  Saba. 

"On  the  succeeding  day  we  marched  about  an  hour  uc- 
der  cover  of  the  timber  of  the  Colorado  bottom.  We  then 
deposited  our  packs  and  bag  gage  in  a  place  of  seciurity  and 
proceeded  onward,  stall  seeking  the  cover  of  the  timber  and 
valley,  to  a  place  about  ten  miles  from  the  village,  where 
we  remained  until  after  sunset. 

If  Army  Arcbivce  in  State  Library. 


288  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

**  After  nigbt,  we  prooeeded  to  within  a  mile  of  the  vil- 
lage, w^ere  we  dismounted'  and  tied  our  horses  in  a.  valley, 
and  having  put  eight  lilpans  on  horseback  with  orders  to 
stampede  the  enemy 's  caballado,  proceeded  on  foot  to  within 
three  "hiundred  yards  of  the  town,  still  keeping  our  spies  in 
advance. 

"The  LajGrange  company,  under  Capt.  Wm,  M.  East- 
land, formed  the  right  wing,  the  Bastrop  comipany,  Capt. 
Smithwick,  the  centre;  anid  the  Lipan's,  under  Castro,  their 
chief,  the  left. 

*'Th.e  attack  was  made  after  daybreak  by  miarching 
Cap^.  Eastlamd's  company  in  advance,  down  between  the 
timber  and  the  villajge  (whose  skirts  run  parallel  tO'  each 
other)  for  the  pairpose  of  having  the  timber  im  our  rear  and 
driving  the  enemy  towards  the  prairie.  Whett  opposite 
the  centre  of  the  town  we  were  disicovered  by  the  enemy,  at 
which  moment  I  ordered  a  charge,  which  was  promptly  obey- 
ed and  carrieid  to  near  the  centre  of  the  village,  the  men 
throwing  open  the  doers  of  the  wigwams  or  pullimg  them 
down  and  slaughtering  the  enemy  in  their  beds. 

"It  was  now  discovered  that  the  opposite  side,  which  had 
been  supposed  to  have  opened  to  the  level  prairie,  was  bor- 
dered by  a  meander  of  the  bayou  which  formed  a  deep  rut 
and  secure  place  of  retreatf  into  which  the  savages  had  fled 
and  in  whieh  they  had  already  rallied  and  formed  for  de- 
fense. At  this  time  the  darkness,  which  previously  bad 
15eein  such  as  barely  to  permit  us  to  aim  with  tolerable  ac- 
curacy, became  greaiter  in  consequence  of  the  smoke  and,  all 
our  firearm-s  b.avinig  been  discharged,  it  became  necessary  to 
retire  for  a  moment  to  reload  and  wait  for  the  dairkness  to 
dispel,  to  enable  us  to  renew  the  attack.  The  disorder 
which  had  resulted'  from  the  eagerness  of  the  men  was 
another  catuse  which  rendered  this  mwiemeint  necessary. 

"We  hadi  barely  time  to  form  and  reload  when  the  eme- 
my  chaaiged  us  in  fiont  and  on  both  fl^iinlMa  to  within  a  few 
steps,  which  attackis  were  repeated  at  short  intervals  until  10 
o'clock  a.  m.,  after  which  the  firing  from  the  enemy  contin- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  289 

ued,  but  from  a  considerable  distaaice.  Ten  men-  were  now 
di^patchedi  by  way  of  the  bayou  to  reconnoitre,  who  return- 
ed soon  after  and  reported  tlio  enemy  very  numeroois.  We 
continued  in  our  position  umtil  half  after  11  o'clock,  when 
the  enemy  ceas'ed  firing,  at  which  time,  having  abandoned 
the  hope  of  bcinig  able  with  »o  few  men  to  force  them  from 
the  strcaag  position  they  occupied,  I  ordered  littetrs  to  be 
prepared  for  our  wounded',  and  soon  after  retired  to  the  place 
at  which  we  had  left  our  horses.  In  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes  after  ooir  arrival  at  ibis  place  we  were  surounded 
by  a  large  body  of  the  enemy,  who  I  believe  were  between 
300  and  500  in  number,  who  immediatiely  opened  a 
fire  on  us,  but  thi^  was  soon  silenced,  and  a  white 
flag  (the  same  presented-  to  them  last  summer  ait  the  seat  of 
government  by  the  President,  Sam  Houston)  approached,  car- 
ried by  a  woman,  accompanied  >by  a  man.  A  parley  ensued 
in  which  stie  stated  that  they  bad  five  white  prisocers;  one 
a  woman  about  middle  age,  understood  to  have  been  captur- 
ed on  the  Brazos  river ;  a,  girl  about  fifteen  years  of  age, 
supposed  to  be  the  daughter*  of  one  of  our  company,  An- 
drew Lockhart,  captured  on  the  Guadalupe ;  the  other  three 
children,  captured  at  the  same  place  a  short  time  since.  This 
information,  I  believe,  was  given  because  they  were  under 
the  impression  th-at  we  had  some  of  their  prisoners  which 
they  wished  to  exchange  for,  as  isome  prisoners  had  been 
taken  by  the  Lipans  which  they  killed  or  otherwise  disposed 
of  without  advice  from  me.  They  also  made  some  statements 
relative  to  their  great  numibers  which  were  constantly  increas- 
ing and  the  co-operation  of  the  Shawnees  who  were  near,  to 
which  was  replied  'Our  numbers  are  small;  come  on.' 

"The  attack  was  not  repeated.  The  number  killed  on 
the  part  of  the  enemy  it  was  imposisdble  to  know,  but  must 
have  been  very  considerable. 

"Our  men  were  furnished  with  a-boiut  three  shots  each, 
which,  during  the  first  attack  upon  the  village,  were  disc 
ciiarged   ^\'ith  great  accura<-,\    at   only    a   few     fett    distance 

♦  Matilda  Lockhart. 


290  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

and  in,  many  instances  by  pkcinLg  the  muzzle  against  the  ob- 
ject. Ad<i  to  this  their  exposed  position  ini  their  repeated!  at- 
tiiuks'  upon  us  and'  the  unerring  aiccuracy  of  <mT  riflemen, 
justifies  the  belief  that  their  loss  must  have  been- very  (great. 
J.1  supposing  their  loss  to  have  been  thirty  or  forty  killed 
^nd  fifty  or  sdxty  wound-ed,  1  make  am  €stimate  mueli 
below  wliat  I  believe  to  be  correct.  Loss  on  our  sid^e;;  killed, 
none;  mortally  wounded,  o(n«— since  died;  slightly  wounded, 
six.  We  also'  lost  a  considerable  ^number  of  horses,  in  all — 
including  those  which  had  previously  died  from  various  caus- 
es^— forty -six. 

"One  of  our  men,  Mr.  Wilson,  from  Lagrange,  was  acei- 
dcn tally  wounded  on^  our  way  up  and  dispatched  homeward 
with  two  men ;  s:ince  died.  Our  force  in  the  engaigement  coiif- 
sisted  o<nly  of  sdxty-tlire<e  white  men  and  sixteen^  Indians — to- 
tal, seventy-nine. 

"Taken  by  the  Lipan  Indian*;  ninty-tkiiee  horses  and 
mules,  only  forty-six  of  w'hich  have  been  received  here. 
Much  credit  is  due  to  Captain  W.  U.  Eastland  and  Lieut. 
N.  M.  Baitn,  of  the  Basti'op  company,  and  Adjutant  Wm. 
Bugg,  for  strict  and  proniipt  obedience  to  orders  and  their 
general  officer-like  conduct,  and  to  the  men  and  -officers  in 
general  for  their  bravery  on  the  field  of  battle  and  their 
subordination  and  good  conduct." 


MURDER  OF  CAPT.  COLEMAN'S  WIDOW  AND  CHILD- 
REN—COL.  BURLESON  ENGAGES  THE  INDIANS. 

Col.  Burlesoni  m  an  official  report  to  Gen.  Albert  Sidney 
Johnston,  writing  from  Bastrop  county,  says:  "Immedi- 
ately after  my  return  home,  I  was  informed  of  a  body  of 
Indians  having  been  seen  in  tihe  Big  Prairie  on  Saturday,  Feb- 
ruary 22,  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  from  Bastrop,  supposed  to 
be  Northern  Indians' — i.  e.  Caddos,  Wacos  and'  Keechies.  On 
Monday  following,  about  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  they  attacked  the 
house  of  the  widow  Coleman,  twelve  miles  above  Bastrop. 
They  attempted  to  cut  off  a  man  and  a  boy  from  the  house, 
who  were  plowing^  in  the  field  and   -vVho,    at   sight   of  them, 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  ,  291 

broke  for  am  adjoining  thicket  and  made  good  their  escape. 
In  the  meantime  a  party  of  the  Indians  fired  at  Mrs.  Oole- 
nian,  wiio  was  at  work  in  the  gardeni  fifty  paces  distant 
from  the  house,  and  slightly  woxunded  lier  in  the  neck  with 
an  arrow.  She  fled  with  all  speed  for  tilie  honse  and  sfuc- 
ceeded  in  r^eaching  it.  At  the  time  of  her  entering  tih« 
house  there  was  in  the  room  her  oldest  son,  about  twelve 
years  of  age,  and  three  other  small  children.  With  tiue  as- 
(sistance  of  the  boy,  she  was  enabled  to  bar  the  door.  The 
Indians  followed  her  to  the  house  andi  forced  the  door  open 
wide  enough  to  admit  a  man.  Tiiey  were  fired  upon  by  the 
boy,  who  killed  one  diead  on  the  spot  and  is  supposed  to 
La.ve  woundted  another.  In  attempting  to  defend  the  pas- 
sage, the  boy  and  Mrs.  Coleman  were  killed.  The  remain- 
ing three  children,  who  were  at  tlw  time  in  the 
room,  crawled  under  the  bed. 

"Tihe  Indians,  having  received  so  w^ai'm  a  reception, 
de&isited.  *  *  *  (They  succeeded  in  cutting  off  a  boy  child 
from  the  house  and  carried  him  off  captive). 

"Tthe  Indians  at  the  same  time  attacked  «nd  plundlered 
the  house  of  Dr.  Robertson,  situated  about  two  Imindred 
yards  from  the  former.  Fortunately,  at  the  time  the  doc- 
tor's family  was  absent,  or  they  would  have  shared 
the  ^ate  of  Mrs.  Coleman,  as  there  wa«  no  white  persooa  on 
the  premises  to  give  themi  protection.  TJie  Indians  took  and 
carried  off  from  the  latter  place  one  negro  woman  and  four 
children,  one  old  man,  and  a  boy. 

"A  party  of  fifty  men  fix)m  above  Bastrop  went  im- 
mediately in  pursuit  and  overtook  them  twenty-five  miles 
north  of  the  Colorado,  where  a  skirmish  took  place.  The 
Indians  haA'ing  advantage  of  position  caused  the  whites  to 
.fall  back  about  three  miles,  with  the  loss  of  one  man,  at 
which  place  I  fell  in  wdth  thirty  men.  I  immediately  went 
in  pursuit  and  overtook  them ;  in  the  meantime,  the  Indians 
having  changied'  theii'  ground  for  a  more  advantageous  po- 
sition. On  discovering  me,  they  took  a  stand.  I  attacked 
them  at  about  1  o'clock  p.  m.  I  continued  to  pick  themj  off 
at  every   opportunity  until   dark.    The  oldJ  negro  man  was 


292  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

found  on  the  battle  grounxil  after  night,  witih.  nine  arraws 
lihot  into  him;  isiipposied  to  have  been  left  for  dead.  He  says 
he  saiw  several  killed;  say  thirty.  From  the  quantity  of 
blood  seen  on  the  ground,  I  am  induced  to  believe  tibat  the 
above  number  is  not  an  over-estimiate.  Our  loss  in  the  last 
aittack  was  two  killed  and  one  wounded,  who  has  since 
died. 

* '  I  remained  encamped  on  the  grotundi  until  next  morn- 
ing, amd  found  thtat  tlhie  Indians  had  left  several  guns, 
bows  anld  arrows,  all  their  camp  equipments,  one  mule 
and  several  horses. 

"I  ordered,  without  delay,  Capt.  Billingsley,  witb 
thirty  mien,  to  follow  on  their  trail  ,  whicih  hie  did  three 
miles  amd  found  that  they  had  dispersed  to  avoid  further 
pursuit. 

"Since  the  above  took  place  there  (has  been  no  more  d«- 
predationsi  committed  on  this  frontier,  except  by  some 
thieving  parties.  It  is  confidently  believed  that  the  Indians 
will  renew  hostilities  on  this  part  of  the  frontier  learly  this 
spring. 

"I  request  that  those  officers  who  liave  accepted  their 
commisisicais  and  who  are  destined  to  recruit  for  the  First 
Regiment  of  Infaintrj^  West  of  the  Brazos,  to  be  sent  to  suicli 
points  as  in  yoair  judigment  are  most  suitable  for  that  pur- 
pose, until  I  shall  comie  down  to  Houston,  which  will  be  in 
about  three  weeks." 


THE  CORDOVA  REBELLION. 

Our  historians  have  not  attached  dlie  importance  to  th« 
motives  of  what  they  are  wo.nt  to  term  thisi  "strange"  out- 
break and  the  incidents  of  its  quellicig.  Previous  to  1836 
the  town  and  Couaity  of  Nacogdoches  contained  a  majority 
of  Mexican  citizens.  These  people  had  made  small  settle- 
ments in  various  parts  of  this  then  immense  terri- 
tory. Her^,  too,  resided  a  large  numiber  of  Cherokee  and 
associate  bandls  of  Indians,  who  properly  belonged  in  the 
Indian  Territorj'  and  under  the  jurisdiction  of  tbe  United 


BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS.  293 

States.  TWyi  had)  been  permitted,  it  seems,  to  occupy  those 
lauds  as  tenants  at  will,  biit  th€  Mexican  Government  whil* 
maintaining  friendly  and  favorable  relations  with  these  In- 
dians, had  studiously  avoided  granting  them  anyth-ing  in 
the  shape  of  title. 

Although  Texias  had  declared  her  independence  and 
bravely  \^'ion  her  liberty  on  the  sangniinary  field  of  San 
Jacinto  in  one  of  the  most  decisive  battles  of  ancient  or 
modern  times — driving  the  enemy  beyond  (her  borders  and 
contcluddng  an  honorable  treaty  of  peace  with  the  captive 
General  and  President,  Santa  Anna — Mexico  never  willingly 
relinquished  claims  to  her  lost  province,  and  for  nearly  a 
decade,  during  which  time  the  Lone  Star  Republic  heroically 
maintained  her  proud  position  as  one  of  the  principalities  of 
the  world,  a  predatory  aaid  guerilla-like  warfare  was  kept 
up  against  the  more  exposed  border  settlements  of  Texas. 

One  of  the  principal  and  most  feasible  schemes  was  to 
send  emissaries  through  the  country  with  instructions  to 
aronise  and  incite  the  Indians  to  hostilities  and  open  rebel- 
lion. Yoakum  says:  "Previous  to  the  French  attack  at  Vera 
Ouz,  and  the  Civil  Avair  in  Mexico,  that  Government  had 
commenced  a  system,  which,  if  it  had  been  carried  out  as 
was  intended,  Avould  have  been  most  disastrous  to  Texas.  Its 
object  was  to  turn  loose  upon  her  all  the  Indian  tribes  up- 
on her  borders,  from  the  Rio  Grade  to  Red  River."  Of 
these  facts  the  Texas  Government  received  undoubted  evi- 
dence a  litltle  latea*  as  will  be  seen. 

At  Nacoigdoche®  early  in  August,  1838,  it  w&s  found 
that  a  motley  company  of  about  150  citizens,  headed 
by  Vincente  Cordova  an  early,  intelligent  and  some- 
what influential  Mexican  resident  of  the  settlement,  had 
secretly  taken  up  arms  and  encamped  on  the  west  bank  Oif 
the  Angelina.  On  learning  these  facts  a  proclamation  was 
issued  to  the  malcontents  requiring  them  to  return  to  their 
homes  and  lay  down  their  arms,  under  the  penalty  of  being 
declafred  enemies  of  the  Republic. 

To  this  i)roclamation  the  rebel  leaders  made  the  follow- 


294  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

ing  bold  and  defiant  reply: — "Tlie  citizens  of  NacO(gdoches, 
being  tired  of  the  unjust  treatment,  amd  otf  the  unsurpation 
of  their  rights,  can  do  no^  less  than  state  that  they  are  em- 
bodied, with  arms  in  their  hands,  to  siistain  those  rights, 
and  those  of  the  nation  to  whieh  tliey  belong.  They  are 
ready  tO'  shed  tJhe  last  drop  of  their  blood ;  and  declare  as 
they  have  heretofore  done,  that  they  do  not  acknowledge 
the  existing  la^vis,  through  which  tliey  are  offered  guarainties 
(by  the  proclamiatioji)  for  their  lives  and  properities.  They 
only  asik  that  you  will  no:t  molest  their  families,  promising  in 
good  fath  to  do  the  same  in  regard  to  yoiiTB. 

Vincente   Cordova,  A.    Cordova, 

Nat  Morris,  C.  Mora)les, 

J,  Arriolta,  Joshua   Robertson, 

J.  Vincent  Mioheli,  J  nan  Jose  Rodrigues. 

J.  Santos  Coy,  and  others. 
August  10,  1838. 

By  this  time  other  Mexiican  adherents  Avith  some  300 
Indians  and  negroes  had  joined  the  enemy,  augment 
ing  their  force  to  labout  six  hundred,  when  ithey  seit  cut  on 
their  march,  in  the  direction  of  the  Cherokee  nation.  Mean- 
time General  Rusk  had  miade  an  urgent  and  immouediate 
requisition  for  men  and  a  considerable  fo.rce  of  volunteers 
was  soon  collected.  Directing  Major  Augustin  with  150  men 
to  follow  the  trail,  G-en.  Rusk  with  the  main  force  marched 
rapidly,  land  more  direct  to  the  headquarters  of  Chief  Bowles, 
expecting  to  intercept  and  engage  the  enemy  at  that 
point.  ISiit  the  enemy  had  warning,  no  doubt,  of  these 
movements,  and  on  arriving  at  the  Saline  it  was  found  they 
had  disbanded  and  dispersed,  the  insurgent  leader  and  a 
few  of  his  followers  having  hastily  fled  westward,  to  the 
wild  tribes  of  the  upper  Trinity  and  Brazos,  where  they  re- 
mained until  the  following  spring,  visiting  and  mingling 
with  these  several  tribes  and  endeavoring  with  presents  and 
promises  to  incite  them  to  open  hostilities,  and  encourage- 
ing  them  to  wage  a  relentless  war  of  extermination  against 
the  Teiansf  to  burn  their  houses,  kill    their    cattle,    steal 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  295 

Ih/eir  horses  and  to  lay  waste  the  settlements;  and  for  all 
of  Which,  besides  the  spoils,  they  were  promised  aid  and 
protection  from  the  Mexican  Government  and  fee  simple 
rights  for  all  time  to  come  to  the  respective  territories 
tlhey  then  occupied.  At  the  same  time  a  regular  cor- 
respondence was  carried  on  through  secret  agentisi  and 
disicrete  me^seagers  with  Commandant  Canalizo  as  well  as 
Manuel  Floreis — charged!  with  diplomatic  duties  towards  the 
Indians  of  Texas — at  Matamoras,  and  piLans  were  being  dis- 
cussed and  perfected  for  carrying  out  the  devilish  designs  of 
a  concerted  and  general  border  warfare  of  rapine  and 
murder  against,  the  siettlers  of  Texas.  To  this  end  and  look- 
ing to  a  better  anidi  more  definite  understanding  and  ar- 
rangement of  plans,  Cordova  urged  agent  Flores  to  meet  and 
comfer  with  him  at  his  redezvous  in  the  Indian  country. 


CORDOVA'S  DEFEAT. 

Early  in  1839  Gen.  Canalizo  succeeded  Gen.  Filisola  as 
commander  at  Matamoras. 

Wishing  to  confer  with  the  new  military  chief,  Vincente 
Cordova  left  his  lair  on  the  uppeo*  Trinity  in  March  and 
started  for  the  Rio  Grande,  accompanied  by  a  force  of 
seventy-five  men — Mexicans,  Indians,  and'  negroes. 

His  camp  was  discovered  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains 
north  of,  and  not  far  from  Austin,  and  the  news  was  con- 
veyed to  Col.  Burleson  at  Bastrop, 

At  the  head  of  'eigihty  men,  he  went  in  piursiait  and 
overtook  the  enemy  on  the  29th  in  an  ofpen  boidy  lof  post- 
oaks  about  six  miles  southeast  of  Seguin  and  dismounted 
a  portion  of  his  men,  who  opened  fire  from  behind  trees. 
Cordova  formed  his  followers,  also  using  trees  for  protection 
and  sought  to  stimulate  them  to  determined  and  successful 
resistance.  They  stood  their  ground  for  awhile,  although 
the  Texans  moved  nearer  and  nearer  to  them,  pouring-  in 
a  steady  and  telling  rifle-fire,  but  broke  into  pieces  and  fled 
when  Burlesfon's  Colorado  volunteers  leaped  into  the  open 
and  charge'd  among  them.    The  pursuit   that   followed   ex- 


'296  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

tended  to  the  dense  jungiles  of  Ouadualupe  bottom,  w,here  it 
■was  discontinued  as  twiliglit    deepened  into  diark. 

Burleson  sufferedi  no  loss  in  killed,  but  several  oif  his 
men  were  wounded.  After  the  fight,  he  moved  six  miles  up 
to  Seguin,  to  protect  (the  few  families  liviag  there. 

Cordova  retreated  during  the  nighit.  Starting  east  of 
Seguin  he  moved  northward  as  far  as  tlie  present  town  of 
New  Braunfels,  crossed  the  Guadalupe,  and  then,  bore  to 
the  nortli  and  passed  north  of  San  Antonio  to  the  Nueces 
where  pursuit  of  him  wats  abandoned  by  Capt.  Mattlhew 
Caldwell  and  his  company  of  rangers  and  a  few  eitizenj  vol- 
unteers who  had  picked  up  his  trail.  Prior  to  the  chase, 
Caldwell's  rangers  were  scattered  in  several  camps,  scouting. 
Cordova  came  upon  one  of  these  detachments  north  of  Se- 
guin, and  wounded  three  men — a  circumstance  that  was  im- 
mediately reported  to  Caldwell  who  concentrated  his  forces 
and    went  in  pureuit. 

Ignorant  of  what  had  transpired  and  desirous  to  meet 
and  confer  with  Cordova,  wherever  he  might  be  fiound — on 
the  upper  Brazos,  Trinity  or  elsewhere — Manuel  Flores,  with 
an  escort  of  about  thirty  Mexicans  and  Indians,  supplies,  am- 
muruition,  and  official  communications  to,  and  instructions  for 
contemplated  Indian  allias,  set  forth  from  Matamoras  in  tJie 
latter  part  of  April  and  traveled  into  Texas  along  a  route 
different  from  that  of  Cordo^^a's  retreat  and  hence,  missed 
him  and  got  into  a  trap. 

He  traveled  slowly,  crossed  the  road  'between  San  An- 
tonio and  Seguin,  May  14 ;  crossed  the  Guadalupe  at  the  old 
Nacogdoches  ford  (at  the  site  now^  occupied  by  New  Bra/um- 
fels)  May  15,  and  proceeded  to  a  point  on  the  San  Gabriel, 
in  the  edge  of  Williamisoni  county,  nortli  of  where  the  town 
of  Austin  was  established  later  in  the  year,  and  was  attacked 
there  and  killed  and  lids  force  defeated  and  scattered.  Two 
of  his  men  were  killed  and  nearly  all  of  those  who  escaped 
were  wounded. 

He  displayed  great  coolness  and  bravery  in  the  skirm- 
ish however,  and  fell  sword  in  hand,  while  trying     to     en- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  297 

conir»ag€  8iis  men  to!  stajnJd  to  tlheir  arms. 

Prior  to  tliie  engagemiemit  with  Cordova,  Maj,  Walters 
wajs  directed  to  rais«  two  companies  of  six  month  s  men  and 
occupy  the  Neehes  Saline  so  as  to  prevent  communication  be- 
tween the  Cherok'ees  and  prairie  Indians  and  afford  protec- 
tion to  settlers.  The  Saline  was  claimed:  as  part  of  the  prop- 
erty of  tlie  Oh'erokees.  Chief  Bowles  notified  Miaj.  Walters 
that  its  occupancy  wouild.  be  resisted  by  force  of  arms-.  That 
officer,  acting  on  the  advice  of  the  Texas  Indian  agient,  Mar- 
tin Lacy,  did  not  make  the  attemj^t  and  crossed  to  the  west 
bank  of  the  Nedhcs  and  established  a  ©amp. 

The  facts  were  communicated  to  Gen.  Albert  Sidney 
Johnston,  Secretary  of  War;  and  to  be  prepafred  for  any 
emergency,  he  direcite'd  Col.  Burleson,  who  was  collecting  a 
force  on  the  Colorado  to  operate  aigainst  oth^r  Indians,  to 
march  lower  down  and  ihold  hims/elf  in  readiness  to  enter  the 
Cherokiee  country  on  the  shortest  notice. 


EXPULSION  OF  THE  CHEROKEES 

In  May,  President  Lamar  addressed  a  letter  toi  Chief 
Bowles  in  which  lie  siaid  that  the  Hous.ton^Forbes  treaty 
had  never  'been  recognized  and  never  would  be,  and  that 
there  should  be  no  division  of  soviereignty  in  Texas.  He  said 
that  whatever  equitaible  claims  the  Cherokees  miay  have 
ever  possessedi  had  been  effaced  by  murders  and  robberies, 
by  furnishing  arms-  andi  supplies  to  prairie  Indians,  and  "by 
the  treacliterous  and'  murderous  coalition  entered,  into  with 
Cordova  and  other  enemies  of  Texas.  Alluding  to  Bowles'  ac- 
tion with  regard  to  Maj.  Walters,  he  said  that  officer  had 
been  ordered  again  to  take  the  post  at  Saline.  Contiuue- 
ing,  he  said:  "I  deem  it  to  be  my  duty  *  *  to  tell  you  *  * 
that  the  Cberokees  are  pennitted  at  present  to  remain 
where  they  are  only  because  this  governmnt  is  looking  for- 
ward to  the  time  wHien  some  peaceable  arrangement  can  be 
made  for  their  removal  without  shedding  blood:  biit  that  this 
final  removal  as  contemplated  is  certain,  and  that  it  will  be 
effected  is  equally  so.     WhethfH'  it  will  be  done  by  friendly 


298  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

negotations  or  by  the  violence  oi'  war,  must  depend  upon  the 
Cherokees  themselves.  If  tliey  remain  at  holme  quieitly  and 
inoffensively,  "tvithout  murd-erimg  our  people,  stealing  tih'eir 
property  or  giving  succor  and  protection  to  our  'eniemies,  they 
vv^ill  be  permitted  to  remain  in  the  undlistiirbed  enjoyment  of 
tbeir  present  possessions  until  Congress  sliall  be  able  to  m^ake 
some  final  arrangements  satisfactory  to  both  parties  for 
their  return  to  their  own  tribe  beyond  Red  River.  But 
if,  Idistening  to  the  suiggestiotis  of  b>ad  men,  equally  tine  'ene- 
mies of  the  red  man  and  the  white,  they  shall  pursue  such 
la  course  of  conduct  as  to  jeopardize  the  lives  and  property 
of  our  citizens,  or  to  des'troy  the  sense  of  security  esisential 
to  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  our  frontier,  the  inevit- 
able consequence  will  be  jM^ompt  and  sanguinary  war  which 
can  terminate  only  in  theiir  destruction  or  expulsion." 

He  urged  t^lieni  to  show  that  they  were  friends  and  wait 
until  the  next  Congress  met  and  he  would  ask  it  to  act  so 
libtrally  toward  them,  .as  to  leave  the  Cherokees  and  Avhite 
people   lasting  f rieads.     Continueing  he  said  : 

"If  we  were  to.  giive  you  a"  you  ask*. — if  thiisi  g^overn- 
ment  were  to  acknewledge  you  as  a  free,  sovereign  and  in- 
dependent power  to  the  fullest  extent — your  »ondlition  would 
rot  be  the  least  im^pirove'd  by  it.  You  could  not  live  in  peace 
vv.lh  our  people.  You  would  be  subject  to  perpetual  and  un- 
avoidable annoyance  lamdi  would  have  finally  to  sell  out  and 
leave  the  country.  Surrounded,  as  you  soon  wouldJ  'be,  by  a 
fetrong  population  and  daily  harassed  by  bad' men  ever  ready 
to  take  advantaige  of  your  ignorance  or  weakness,  wlliat  se- 
curity would  you  liiave  for  any  of  your  rights?  What  redress 
of  wrong?  There  would  be  iiore  except  the  honor  of  tliis 
government.  You  would  be  powerless  and  have  to  rely  up- 
on the  magnanimity  of  Congress.  Then,  why  not  rely  upon 
it  now?  This  gov^emment  has  no  desire  to  wrong  tlie  In- 
dian, or  shed  his  blood;  but,  it  will  not  hesitate  to  adotpt 
the  mos-t  vigorous  and  decisive  measures  for  ithe  def eaise  of 
its  rights  and  the  prateotion  of  its  own  people." 

After  several  papers  captured   from  Mores   were  laid 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  299 

before  the  President  and  his  cabinet,  steps  were  taken  to 
compel  the  departure  of  the  Cherokees  from  Texas,  with 
the  least  possible  delay. 

The  Houston  Telegraph  of  June  19,  contained  an  editorial 
saying  that  the  time  hadi  an-ived  for  severe  chaistisement  of 
the  Indians  who  had  lurked  "like  spirits  oif  darkness  on  the 
borders"  and  who  had  "construed  forbearance  init'o  weak- 
ness and  indulgence  into  timidity."  After  alluding  to  the 
Houston-Forbes  treaty  of  1836  with  the  Cherokees,  the  ar- 
ticle continues: 

"We  have  neither  time  nor  patience  to  discuss  that 
treaty.  It  has  never  been  ratified — has  received  no  sanc- 
tion except  from  the  inexplicable  fatuity  of  the  commis- 
sioners who  made  it.  To  confiim  it  now  would  inflict  irre- 
parable injury  upon  Texas,  and  positive,  palpable  injustiice 
on  many  of  her  citizens.    The  proposition  is  therefore  idle. 

"*  *  The  Cherokees  are,  and  always  were,  unwelcome 
intruders  amooig  us.  If  they  will  not  return  peaceaibly  to 
their  original  tribe,  it  will  become  our  duty — now  that  their 
stealthy  mEchinationsi  with  Mexico  have  been.fully  discovered, 
to  compel  the*ir  retirement  and  perpetual  alienationi  from 
thie  country  *  *  *  ,  ^ 

"The  Cherokees  have  long  been  a  source  of  inquietude 
and  distrust  to  our  eastern  brethren.  During  the  invasion 
of  '36,  the  proximity  of  those  wily  sa-vages  to  his  homestead 
restrained  many  a  strong  hearted  Red  Lander  from  the  field 
of  battle,  and  kept  him  am  idle  and  umvilling  spectator  of 
his  country's  struggle.  Their  insidiou-s  connection  with  Mex- 
ico, and  their  secret  intrigues  with  the  paltry  tribes  -of  the 
prairies,  have  already  cost  us  moich  blood  and  sfuffeiring 
*  *  *.    There  should  ibe  an  end  put  to  these  things." 

Cd.  Burleson  was  ordered  to  increase  his  force  to  400 
men  and  to  march  into  the  Cherokee  country,  which  he  did. 
crossing  to  the  east  side  of  the  Neehes  July  14,  where  be  was 
join'ed  by  the  regiment  of  Col.  Landxum,  eoanjH>sed  of  volun- 
teers from  Harrison,  Shelby,  Sabine  and  San  Augustine 
counties..    Gen  Rusk  was  already;  on  th,e  ground  yntii    ib^ 


300  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Nacogdoches  regimient  and  encamped  near  tlue  Clierokee  vil- 
lage. 

Douglass  despatched  Capt.  Kimbro'si  company  of  San 
Augu&tinie  volunteers  to  the  village  of  the  iShawnees  to  de- 
mand the  surrender  of  their  gun-locks  to  enforce  neutrality. 
They  were  promptly  delivered. 

Vice-Presideait,  David  G.  Burnet,  Thomas  J.  Rusk,  J.  W. 
Burton,  James  S.  Mayfield  and  Secretary  oif  War,  Gen.  Al- 
bert Sidfliey  Johnston  (the  latter  of  whom  was  appointed  at 
the  instanice  of  Bowles),  as  commissioners  for  Texas,  were 
for  several  days'  previous  to  July  15  engaged  in  conferenices 
•with  the  Cherokee  chiefs,  trying  to  effect  an  amicable  agree- 
ment.* They  had  bieen  instructed  to  allow  a  fair  compensa- 
tion for  improvements,  payment  to  be  made  partly  in  money 
and  partly  in  goods;  but  were  not  authorized  to  stipulate 
for  payment  of  the  Cherokees  for  their  lamdisi. 

At  noon  July  15,  the  commissioners  came  into  camp  and 
announced  their  failure  to  negotiate  a  settlement. 

The  troops  were  immediately  put  ini  motion  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Cherokee  village,  under  instructions  not  to  fire 
until  the  Indians  liad  been  summoned  to  accept  the  terms  of 
the  government. 

It  was  found  that  the  Cherokees  had  retreated  some 
hours  before  to  a  strong  position  near  a  Delaware  villatge, 
five  or  six  miles  distant. 

The  Texas  army  followed  them.  The  Indians  opened  fire. 
The  engagement  began  late  in  the  afternoon.  The  Indians 
were  beaten. 

Another  battle  followed  the^  n^xt  day  near  the  Nteches, 
in  which  the  Indians  were  hopelessly  defeated  and  Chief 
Bowles*    was   killed.     The   Cherokees  fled  from  the  country 

♦  Official  report  of  Secretary  of  War. 

»  »  Bowles  was  the  son  of  a  Scotch  father  and  Indian  mother.  He  was  a  man  of  un- 
usnal  sagacity.  It  is  said  that  he  advised  the  Indians  to  accept  the  best  terms  they  could 
get  from  the  whites,  but  they  refused  to  be  guided  by  his  advice,  whereupon  he  told  them 
that  he  would  live  or  die  for  them  as  fortune  might  determine,  and  exhorted  them  to  fight 
bravely.  During  the  last  battle  he  could  be  repeatedly  heard  encouraging  them,  and  more 
than  once  urging  them  to  charge. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  301 

after  these  affairs.  Parties  of  Dhem  returned  from  time  to 
time  afterwards  and  committed  murders  and  depredations 
alone  or  in  conjunction  with  other  Indians.  Thomas  J. 
Rusk  and  James  S.  Mayfield,  as  commissioners,  entered  into 
an  agreement  under  which  the  Shawnees  accepted  terms  of 
the  government  and  left  the  country. 

In.  the  battle  with  the  Cherokees  at  the  Delaware  village, 
Vice-President  Burnet,  Adjutant  General  McLeod,  General 
Joihnston,  and  Major  David  S.  Kaufman  were  among  the 
wounded. 

Brig.  Gen.  K.  H.  Douglass,  commanding  the  Texas  army 
under  date  of  "Headquarters,  Gamp  Carter,  16th  of  July, 
1839,"  made  the  following  official  report  toi  Gen.  A.  Sidney 
Johnston,  Secretary  of  War: 

''On  yesterday,  the  negotiations  on  the  part  of  the  com- 
missioners having  failed,  under  youi'  orders  the  ^^'^hole  force 
was  put  in  motion  towards  the  encampment  of  Bowles  on 
the  Neches.  Col.  Landrum'  crossied  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Neches  and  up  the  river.  The  regiments  under  Col.  Burle- 
son and  Rusk  moved-  directly,  to  the  camp  of  Bowles,  on 
reaching  which  it  was  found  to  be  abandoned.  Their  trail 
was  ascertained,  and  a  rapid  pursuit  made.  Ab§ut  six  miles 
above  their  encampment,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Delaware  \^il- 
lage,  at  tne  head  of  a  prairie,  they  were  disicoMened  by  the 
spy  company  under  Capt.  Carter  and  a  detaehment  of  aJbout 
twenty-five  from-  Capt.  Todd's  company  led  by  Gen.  Rusk. 
The  enemy  deployed  from  the  point  of  a  hill.  Gen.  Rusk 
motioned  for  theim  to  eome  on.  They  adi'anced  and  fired 
four  or  five  times  and  immediately  occupied]  a  tbicket  and 
ravine  on  the  left.  As  we  advanced,  the  lines  were  imme- 
diately formed  and  the  action  became  general.  The  ravine 
was  instantly  c<ba(rgedJ  and  flanked  en  the  left  by  Col.  Burle- 
son with  a  ^savt  of  his  regiment.  The  rest  of  Col.  Burleson's 
retgiment  was  led  by  Lieut.  Col.  Woodlief;  a  portion  of  Gen. 
Rusk's  regiment  charging  at  the  saime  time,  and  another 
portion  took  position  on  &  point  or  hill  to  the  right  and 
drove  a  party,  who  attempted  to  flank  us,  frem*  that  quarteor 


a02  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

— thus  instantly  driving  the  ^nemy  from. the  ravine  and  thick- 
et, Leaving  eighteen  dead  on  the  field  that  have  been  found 
and  carrying  off,  as  usual,  their  woundied  as'  wias  iseen  hy 
many  of  our  men.  Our  loss  in  the  engagement  was  two  killed, 
one  wounded  mortally,  and  five  slightly. 

"Col.  Landrum  was  not  able,  having  so  much  furtlier  to 
mai'ch,  to  pai-ticipate  in  the  engagement,  but  has  beien  or- 
dered to  join  us  this  morning.  All  behaved  so  gallantly,  it 
would  be  invidious  to  particularize.  The  action  coimnenced 
about  half  an  hour  before  sundown,  which  pre  vented  a  pur- 
suit. IMost  of  their  baggage  was  captured;  five  keg"si  of 
powdcl",  250  lbs.  of  lead,  many  horses,  cattle,  coirn  and  other 
pix)perty. ' ' 

The  action  of  Jmly  16,  began  by  Capt.  Carter's  spy  com- 
pany 'being  fiTed  upon.  Col.  Burleson,  with  the  eompaniies 
of  Capts.  Jordan  and  Howard  of  hl^  regiment,  advanced 
brisMy  to  the  support,  of  Garter  and  drove  the  eneany's  force 
in  front  to  a  a-avine  and  thicket  whea-e  the  main  body  of  the 
Chei-okiecs  were  posted  in  a  very  sti*ong  positioni.  Burleson's 
loss  was  one  man  killed'  and  seven  horses  wounded. 

Col,  Rusk,  leading  the  cqfmpanies  of  Capts.  Tiipp  and 
Todd,  land  foilloA\Ted  by  the  second  battalion  of  has  regiment 
(coanpanies  of  Cajpts.  R.  W.  and  ]\Iadison  Sanith)  under  Lt. 
Col.  Jaanes  Smith,  moved  up  to  the  support  of  Burleson 
and  took  position  as  the  center  of  the  Texas  line.  Burleson 
obliqued  to  the  left  and  engaged  the  enemy's  right.  Capts, 
Lewis  and)  Ownsby  of  the  other  battalion  of  Burleson's  reg- 
iment moved  to  the  right  of  Rusik  and  in  front  of  the  ene- 
my's left  wing. 

Sp-irited  J'iring  continued  for  an.  horn-  and  a  half — the 
Chlerokees  evidently  making  a  serious  effort  for  victory. 
Then  Gren.  Douglass  ordered  a  simultaneous)  charge,  which 
was  gallantly  executed.  The  enemy  were  driven  with 
filaughtei-  for  half  a  mile  and  took  refuge  in  a  swamp  in  the 
Nieehes  bottom.  They  were  again  charged,  Lt.  Col.  Wood- 
liei  leading  tihie  right.  Rusk  the  center  and  Burleson  the 
left.     This  time  they  offered  no   opposition,  but  broke  and 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  303 

ran  in  every  direction  away  from  their  assailanits.  Gren.  Doug- 
lass then  halted  his  men  and  ordei'ed  ttliiem  to  collect  the 
woundeid  and  form  on  liigh  ground.  According  to  his  esiti- 
mate,  ithe  Cherokeei  force  consisted  of  700  or  800  warriors. 
Their  own  report  placed  their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  at 
100.  The  Texan  loss  was  two  killed  and  thirty  wounded, — 
three  mortally:  Maj.  H.  W.  Augustin,  Jno.  S.  Thompson,  and 
Jdo.  Ewing. 

Gen.  Dougla.ss  says  that  Capt.  Jordan  was  wounded  earlor 
in  the  action  and,  w^hile  he  was  on  th-e  gi*ound,  continued  to 
canittnaDd  his  men.  The  General  favoraibly  mentions  Drs. 
Booker,  Brown  and  Torwens  and  the  other  surgeons,  Ca(pt. 
Smith,  Lieut.  Corbin,  Adjutant  General  McLeod,  Brigadier 
General  Snively,  volunteer  aides  Davis  and  >\Iorbett  and  Maj. 
Siturgivss  and  Capts.  Milroy  amd  Patton  of  his  staff,  and 
others. 

He  says,  "Rusk  andi  Burleson  behaved  with  that  gal- 
lantry and  coolness  that  has  so  often  distinguished  them  on 
the  field  of  battle  in  Texas." 

Also:  "Important  benefits  are  likewise  acknowledged 
■to  have  been  derived  from  the  active  exertions  of  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  and  Vi«e-President,  who  were  on  the  field  in 
both  engagements,  and  behaved  in  such  a  manner  as  reflect- 
ed credot  upon  themselves." 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  the  woundied  were  con- 
vejned  to  Fort  Lamia r  by  Capt.  Todd  in  coanmand  of  a  detaiil 
of  eighty  men. 

The  Texas  amay  reimaimed  in  camp  for  twoi  days' — until 
joined  by  ihe  force  under  Col.  Laiidrum  which  had  been  ad- 
vancdng  up  the  east  side  of  the  Neches. 

On  the  21st  the  army  went  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 

Cren.  Douglass  says:  "The  trail  of  the  Indians  bore 
westward  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Sa>bifne,  whneh  was  fol- 
lowed and  brought  us  abiput  4  o'clock  ini  tlie  evening  to 
»ome  Indian)  huts  and  coi-nfields.  Severail  villa.gcs  and  sev- 
eral hundred  acres  of  corn  were  discovered.  We  encamped 
at  one  of  them— destroyed  their  houses  andi  cut  down  their 
com. 


304  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

"This  devastating  inarch  waa  continued  up  to  the  25th, 
nntil  the  tembire  Cherokee  country  had  been  traversed  and 
Indian  trails  had  disappeared.  Houses  were  buront  and  crops 
ondl  improvements  desitToyed  every  day  until  none  remained. 
ARI  cattle  and  other  stock  were  appropriated. 

"On  the  25th  orders  were  issuedi -f or  the  companies  ta  he 
marched  hoone  by  different  routes  and  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice, which  was  done." 


RIGHTS  OF  THE  CHEROKEES— THE  INGRATITUDE  OF 
A  REPUBLIC. 

Yoakium's  view  that  the  Cherokees  had  a  sitromg  equita- 
ble, if  not  legal,  title  to  the  lands  they, claimed;  that  the  Con- 
snltaticn  was  a  private  organic  body  that  had  the  right  and 
power  (to  issue  the  solemn  decree  it  did;  and  to  authorize  the 
negotiatiton  of  the  treaty  entered  into  by  Houston  and 
Forbes  by  direction  of  the  Provisional  Government  of  Texas; 
and  that  the  white  people  were  the  first  to  bre-ak  the  tenms 
of  the  solwnn  compact  entered  into  with  the  Indiams,  is  sus- 
tained' by  the  faot/s  of  history. 

Cut  a  breach  had  been  created  that  it  was  impossible  to 
bridge,  as  mutual  confidence  had  been  destroyed.  The 
people  at  'large  regarded  the  Cluerokees  a®  enemies,  and 
a  greedy  element  hungered  for  their  lands.  Reflecting 
public  sentiment,  the  Texas  f^enate  rejected  the  Houston- 
Forbes  treaty. 

President  Houston  believed  that  the  Cherokees  were  being 
made  the  victims  of  la  cruel  combination  of  ciricmnstances, 
and  made  a  noble  but  unavailing  effort  to  save  itbem. 

It  is  not  only  possible,  but  probable,  tbat,  if  the  declara- 
tion of  the  Consultation  and  the  treaty  had  been  lived;  uip  to 
in  letter  and  spirit  by  the  people  and  government  of  Texas, 
the  Cherokees  would  have  proven  faithful  allies. 

The  action  of  the  Consultation  and  the  treaty  if  adhered 
to,  would  have  cured  its  defects  and  given  them  defense  and 
inviolable   territory.     Both    were  repudiated. 


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BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  305 

LOCATING  THE  CAPITAL  AT  AUSTIN. 

By  October  lat,  the  .seat  of  government  was  transfered 
to  Austin.  President  Lamar  and  cabinet  traveled  overland 
from  Houston.  They  were  met  outside  the  town  land  es- 
corted in  by  a  delegation  of  citizens,  who  gave  a  banquet 
and  ball  in  their  honor.  Public  buildings,  including  a  wooden 
one-story  oapitol  sdituated  where  the  city  hall  now  stands,  had 
been  erected  during  the  summer. 

The  site  of  Austin  w^as  selected  by  Albert  C.  Horton, 
Louis  P.  Cook,  Isaac  W.  Burton,  William  Menefee  and  J. 
Campbell,  commissioners  appointed  under  the  act  of  January- 
14,  1839.  Their  action  was  bitterly  criticised  by  those  op- 
posed to  Lamar's  adniinistration,  and  enthusiastically  support- 
ed by  his  adherents  and  aill  who  favored  the  policy  of  driv- 
ing the  Indians  westward  as  rapidly  as  possible  and  shoving 
the  frontier  line  forward  in  th  mi-  wake.  A  prime  object  was 
to  open  lands  for  safe  settlement  by  immigrants  and  other 
homeseekers. 

At  that  time  Austin  was  on  the  extreme  frontier.  The 
nearest  se1)tlement  on  the  west  was  San  Antonio,  about  eighty 
miles  away.  "To  Lav;aca  Bay,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  distant,  the  only  settlements  were  Gonzales  and  Vic- 
toria. To  Housiton,  a  distance  of  nearly  two  hundred  miles, 
the  only  settlements  were  about  Washington."  To  the  set- 
tlemients  on  Red  River,  nearly  four  hundred  miles  distant, 
was  a  region  unoccupied  save  by  roving  and  murderous 
brands  of  Indians, 


CAPT.  HOWARD'S  SKIRMISH. 

Fort  Burleson,  Oct.    26,  1839. 
To  the  lion.  A.  Sidney  Johntsion,  Sec.  of  War: 

Sir — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  on  the  morniriig  of 
the  26th  insit.,  between  S/an  Gabriel  and  Little  River,  as  I  was 
riding  accompanied  by  one  of  my  comanand,  about  one 
quarter  of  a  mile  in  advance  of 'he-  ^vap■ous  and  t!ieir  suard, 
I  discovered  a  number  of  Indians  at  a  distance,  and  leaving 


306  BORDEK  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

a  man  to  watch  their  movements  and  endeavor  to  ascertain 
their  numbers,  I  joined  my  company  to  pul  them  in  a  posi- 
tion for  attack  or  defense,  as  circumsitances  might  require, 
^he  fitcout  camie  in  and  reported  about  140  Indians,  I 
then  tooik  a  position  in  an  island  of  timber,  forming  a  breast- 
work with  the  wagons,  which  I  had  hardly  completed  when 
the  enemy  came  upon  us.  There  were  from  15  to  30  ridimg 
around,  and  as  I  thought,  endeavoring  to  draw  me  from,  my 
position. 

Finding  that  impossible,  they  drew  off  to  a  point  of  tim- 
ber about  250  yards  distant.  In  order  to  ascertain  their 
numbers  with  more  certainty,  I  mounted  and  rode  in  their 
direction,  wTnen  they  witJidrew  in^)  t'le  prairie.  As  I  found 
that  their  force  did  not  e'xceed  20,  and  some  of  them  had 
pre^nously  rode  off  iin  a  different  direction  (probably  to  ob- 
tain reinforcements),  I  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  tlie 
Falls,  after  instructing  Capt.  Moore  and  Lt.  Jjervvis  that  I 
:W'Ould  endeavor  to  provoke  them  to  an  attack,  and  to  hoM 
themsielves  in  readiness.  I  being  t!ie  ix^-t  mounted,  pursued 
the  Indians  alone.  On  reaching  the  siummit  of  a  hill  in  the 
prairie,  I  discovered  thean  in  advance.  They  immediately 
turned  and  gave  chase,  hopinig  to  out  me  off  before  I  could 
reaxih  my  force.  I  led  them  back  towards  the  'wagons,  and 
on  their  arriving  within  200  yards,  Lt.  Lewis  and  twelve  men 
met  m'C ;  we  then  charged  them,  (leaving  Capt.  Moone  and  the 
balance  of  the  men  to  giuard  the  wagons)  and  a  skirmish  en- 
sued which  lasted  aiboiut  fifteen  minutes,  when  they  retreated, 
leaving  three  nuen  and  three  horses  dead  upon  the  field,  be- 
sides several  who  rode  off  evidently  woainded.  "The  state  of 
our  horses  wais  isiuch  that  I  could  not  pursue  them,  as  they 
were  mostly  mcumted  on  fine  American  horses,  and  having 
seen  a  very  'liarge  trail  near  Brushy  the  day  before,  I 
thooigOit  it  most  prudient  to  pioceed  on  my  route.  We  sus- 
tained no  injury,  with  the  exception  of  one  horste,  which 
was  badly  wounded  and  left  behind.  I  arrived  here  on  Mon- 
day the  28th  without  further  intenniption,  but  from  tine  var- 
ious trails  aind  signs,  I  am  convinced  th'ere  is  a  large  force 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  307 

hovering  (about  the  ro'ad  from  this  place  to  Austdn. 

Lt.  Alexander  and  several  of  the  men  are  down  "with 
the  fever,  there  is  no  surgeon  within  seventy  miles  of  the 
post,  and  no  medicines  on  hand. 

I  have  the  honor  toi  he  very  respectfully  your  obedient 
servant.  Geo.  T.  Howiard,  Comd'g  Postt. 

— Austin   City   Gazette,   Nov.  6,  1839. 


INDIAN  TROUBLES  NEAR  THE  NEW  CAPITAL. 

During  the  fall  of  1839,  a  young  negro  man  owned  by 
Hamilton  White  wias  kdlled  and  scalped  by  Indians  in  Wal- 
nu/t  Creek  bottom  about  six  miles  from  Austin.  White  had 
a  contract  to  deliver  kimber  at  Austin,  and  started  the  ne- 
gro for  that  place  with  a  'wagon  load  of  lumber  and  $300.00 
in  money.  The  night  beifiore  he  was  killed,  the  negro  stopped 
with  Ms  team  at  Reuben  Hornsby's.  In  the  morning  he  said 
that  he  was  -afraiiid  tO'  go  on  to  Ausitin,  as  it  was  known,  that 
hostile  Indians  were  <m  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Honnsiby  told  him 
that  he  had  better  -wait  imiitil  he  coiild  get  company.  The  dar- 
key, replied  that  Mr.  White  expected  him  to  reach  town  by  a 
certiain  tiane,  land  he  wiould  hf  ve  to  tiake  chances.  He  laccord- 
ingly  set  forward,  with  the  result  stated. 

The  "Telegraph,"  pubdislied  at  Houston,  says  in  it«  issue 
of  Dec.  18,  1839 : 

"The  combined  tribes  of  the  Lipans  and  Tonkaways 
were  at  AuMin  on  the  11th  inst.  Tliey  iwere  to  accompany 
Col.  Burleson  on  the  expeditiooi  into  the  Comanche  country'. 
About  300  troops  under  this  officer  and  200  of  the  Indians 
were  to  leave  the  encampment  near  Austin  on  or  about  the 
13th  inst.  for  this  purpose. 

"The  object  of  the  expedition  is  to  force  the  Comanches 
from  tlie  section  of  country  near  the  San  Saba  and  to  es- 
tablish a  line  of  block  house's  from  the  Colorado  to  tdie  Red 
River.  These  block  houses,  when  erected  and  gari-isoned,  it 
is  believed,  -will  effectually  shut  out  the  prairie  Indians  froM 
the  country,  and  remove  the  frontier  from  100  to  200  miles 


308  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

furtlDer  aaortli'ward.  By  this  means  an  immense  tract,  the 
most  fertile  and  healthy  se<ition  of  Texas,  will  be  opened  to 
the  enterprising  immigranfts  who  are  crowding  into  the 
country.  The  section  of  country  to  be  thius  wrested  from 
these  savage  hordes,  is  exceedingly  vailuable,  from  the  fact 
tbajt  it  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  tlie  culture  of  wheat  *and 
other  s>tapiles  of  the  miiddie  states  of  the  American  Union." 


BURLESON'S   ATTACK   ON  MIGRATING    CHEROKEES— 
DEATH  OF  "THE  BOWL"  AND  "THE  EGG." 

The  year  closed  with  an  engagement  on  Christmias  day 
with  .a  considerable  body  of  Chenokees  who  were  tryimg  to 
make  their  way  across  Texas  into  Mexico  by  traveling  nortli  of 
the  settlements.  They  were  led  by  John  Bowles,  son  of 
Cod.  Bowles,  or  "Tihe  Bowl,"  as  he  wais  called  by  the  tribe, 
(the  deceased  chief  wihio  was  killed  in  one  of  the  battles 
fouglit  when  the  Oherokees  were  expelled  from  East  Texas 
in  July),     and  another  chief  called  "The  Egg." 

Col.  Edward  Burleson,  of  the  army,  in  comimiand  of  a 
body  of  reguiljars,  a  few  volunteers  and  Lipan  and  Tonkawa 
scouts  was  making  a  winter  campaign  between  the  uipper 
Colorado  and  Brazos  rivers. 

During  the  afternoon  of  December  23,  when  he  was  about 
twenty-five  miles  east  of  Pecan  bayou,  his  scouts  repoiited 
that  they  had  discovered  a  large  trail  of  horses  and  cattle 
bearing  south,  in  the  direction  of  tlie  Colorado  river. 

The  trail  was  followed  am  some  time  in  the  aftemoon  of 
I>eeember  25,  Coil.  Burleson  and  his  men  crossed  to  the  w^'St 
side  of  the  river  and  approached  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  camp  of  John  Bowles  and  "The  Egg"  before  being  dis- 
covered. 

Burleson  desired  the  Indians  to  surrender.  They  sent  a 
messenger  to  him  to  parley  and  at  tlie  same  time  a  party  of 
them  moved  to  his  rear  and  took  position  in  a  ravine.  Con- 
eluding  that  they  were  merely  endeavoring  to  secure  time  to 
attack  his  force  to  best  advantage,  he  detained  the  Indian 
miessenger  and  gave  orders  under  which  his  men  besran  to  de- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  309 

ploy  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  able  to  assail  the  enemy  both 
in  front  and  flank. 

Correctly  interpreting  what  was  trajnispiring,  the  Indians 
in  the  ravine  opened  fire,  imstantly  killing  Capt.  Lynch  and 
wounding  several  of  tih'e  whites.  The  fire  was  returned  by 
Oompany  B,  which  immediat-ely  charged;  under  Capt.  Glen 
denin,  and  drove  the  siaA^ages  out  of  the  ravine  aod  back 
upon  the  main  force.  At  the  same  time  the  rest  of  Burle- 
son's force  charged  the  warriors  under  Bowles  and  "The 
Egg."  Both  of  the  chiefs  and  five  other  Indians  were 
killed.  The  c^'UfMct  was  brief,  the  Cherok«es  breaking  be- 
fore the  impetuou'S  onset,  and  seeking  cover  in  dense  cedar 
brakes.  All  the  surviving  warriors,  except  the  messenger, 
escaped.  He  and  five  womcm  and  nineteen  children  were 
made  captives.  Among  the  prisoners  were  tihe  wife  and  two 
daughters  of  Col.  Bowles  and  three  children  of  John  Bowles. 
Some  months  later  the  prisoners  were  sent  to  their  kindred 
in  the  Cherokee  Nation,  west  of  Arkansas. 

Col.  Burleson  continued  his  expedition  to  a  successful 
conclusion,  marchimg  up  Pecan  Bayou,  thence  across  to  the 
Leon,  and  down  the  country  to  the  settlemeibts,  frightening 
Indians  out  of  the  region.  Several  bodies  of  hostiles  were 
reported  by  their  scouts,  but  dissolved  and  disappeared  on 
his  approach. 

Among  those  who  accompanied  him  were  Col.  Wm.  S. 
Fisher,  Major  Wyatt,  Captain  Matthew  Caldwell,  Lieut.  Lew- 
is, Dr.  Booker,  and  Capt.   (afterwards  Dr.)  J.  P.  B.  January, 

The  end  of  the  year  found  the  Indian  situation  in  Texas 
somewhat  improved,  the  settlements  rapidly  extending,  pop- 
ulation and  wealth  largely  increased,  and  security — the  twin 
blessing  of  freedom — being  afforded  in  (larger  measure  to 
the  people  on  the  frontier  and  elsewhere  than  at  any  for- 
mer time  since  tihe  era  of  the  Republic. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


HE  year  1840,  in  the  history  of  Texas, 
teems  mth  interesit.  The  stream  of  the  na- 
tion's  life,  no  longer  a,  ri^^iulet,  was  braaden- 
ing  and  deepening  into  a  noble  river. 

During  the  twelve  months,  the  e^astern, 
mid   a  portion  of  the  northern  boun'diary  of 
Texas  were  established  by  commissioners  ap- 
pointed for  tile      purpose.        "The    ''neutral 
ground"  on  the  eastern  line  was  thus  elim- 
iaiated.     The  survey   added   a  narrow  strip 
of  land  to  the  northern  portion    of   the    Republic.     Tlie   Siet- 
tlers   in    it    were    generously    treated  by  Texas,     being     al- 
lowed the  same  quantities  of  land  as  emigrants. 

Having  no*  use  for  the  navy,  Texas  leased  the  greater 
portion  of  it  to  Yucatan,  in  whose  service  it  remained  for 
two  years.  An  attempt  wais  made  to  estaJblish  a  Repu/blie 
of  the  Rio  Grande  by  Mexican  revolutionists,  but  failed.  The 
effort  'would  be  unjworthy  of  mention,  but  for  tlhe  increase 
of  fame  added  to  Texas  arms  by  Colonels  William  S.  Fisher, 
S.  W.  Jordlan  land  their  comrades,  who  aided  the  movement 
and  performed  military  exploits  on  Mexican  soil  thalt  are 
not  surpassed  by  any  record  of  Texas    soldiers. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  the  independence  of  Tex- 
as was  foirmally  recognized  by  Great  Britain,  France  and  Bel- 
gium, 'and  the  Repulblic's  position  as  a  sovereign  state  as- 
sured. 


BORDER  WARrf  OF  TEXAS.  311 

So  much  for  general  events  and  legislation.  The 
main  interest  that  attaches  to  the  year  centers  in 
incidents  that  marked  tlie  workuig  out  of  President  Lamar's 
Indian  policy,  and  in  happenings  that  swelled  the  bloody  tide 
o^'  sava'ge  atrocities  that  continued  to  surge  along  tine  fron- 
tier. 


FAMOUS  COUNCIL  HOUSE  FIGHT. 

January  30,  Gen.  Albert  Sidney  Johnson  wrote  to  Col. 
William  S.  Fisheir,  eommanlding  1st  regiment  of  Texas  Li- 
fantry,  directing  him  to  ordea-  three  companies  of  tJie  regi- 
ment to  miarch  immediatel}'  to  San  Antonio,  a'nd  to  proceed 
there  himself  and  take  command  of  the  troops  andi  station 
them  in  such  advantageous  position  near  the  town  as  he  might 
select.  Gen.  Johnston  recited  the  contents  of  a  letter  re- 
ceived from  Kaimes  and  then,  speakintg  of  the  Coananches', 
said!:  "If  they  come,  in  accordance  with  their  agreements, 
bringing  with  them  the  captives  and  delivea*  them  up,  sucli 
volmntatry  release  of  their  prisonen's  "will  be  regarded  as  an 
evidenice  of  their  sincere  desire  for  peace  and  they  will,  there- 
fore, be  treated  with  kindnesis  and  be  permitted  tO'  depart 
without    molestation. 

"You  will  state  to  them  that  tliis  govemmient  assumes 
the  (right,  witlh  regard  to  all  Iiudian  tribes  residing  within 
the  limits  of  the  Republic,  to  dictate  the  conditions  of  their 
residence,  and  that  their  own  happiness  depends  on  their 
good  or  (bad  eondnet  toward  our  citizens.;  that  their  remain- 
ing 'within  siueh  limits  as  may  be  prescribed,  and  an  entire 
abstinenice  fromj  acts  of  hositility  or  annoyance  to  tlie  inba'b- 
itants  of  the  frontier,  are  the  only  conditionis  for  the  priv- 
ilege of  oicenpancy  that  the  government  deems  it  is  neces- 
sary at  ithds  time  to  ianpoise." 

He  described  that  the  Comanches  be  told  that  they  must 
keep  ouit  of  the  settlements,  and  not  molest  persons  locating 
lands,  as  citizees  were  entitled  by  law  to  make  locations 
upon  any  vacanit  and  unappropriated  portion  of  the  putbli« 
domain. 


312  ,     BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

He  also  commanded  Col.  Fisher  to  arrest  and  hold  as  hos- 
tages the  Indians  wlio  came  to  the  meeting,  unless  they 
brought  in  and  sun-endered  all  the  eaptdves  held  by  Comtan- 
ches;  but  to  allow  messengers  to  return  to  the  tribe  and  re- 
port what  had  occurred,  and  that  the  Indian  hostages  would 
be  releasd  as  soon  as  the  white  captives  w^ere  produced. 

Col.  Fisher  communicated  with  tlie  Comanches  in  Feb- 
ruary, telling  them  not  to  come  in  without  bringing  all  the 
iwis  oners. 

They  replied  that  they  would  arrive  art:  the  time  ap- 
pointed. 

March  19th  a  party  of  Comanches,  consis.ting  of  thkty 
two  warriors  and  thii^ty-  three  women  and  children  entered 
San  Antonio,  bringing  only  oup  prisoner,  Matilda  Lockhart. 
The  girl's  body  was  covered  with  bruises  and  sores,  her 
hair  bad  been  singed  to  the  sicalp,  and  her  nose  had  been 
burned  off  to  the  bone — evidently  at  some  time  considerably 
anterior  to  the  meeting,  as  the  wound  had  healed. 

Twelve  chiefs  who  accompanied  tbe  party,  were  con- 
ducteed  to  the  Court  House,  where  they  took  seats  on  the 
platform  at  one  end  of  the  room  with  Col.  Fisher,  Col.  Hugh 
McLeod,  Adjutant  Genera<l,  an  !  Col.  William  G.  Cooke,  Quar- 
termaster General,  and  acting  Secretary  of  war,*  commis- 
sioners appointed  to  treat  wdth  them.  In  the  room  were 
also  a  consideraible  crowd  of  bystanders.  iCapt.  George  T. 
Howard  was  ordered  up  with  two  companies  of  soldiers,  one 
of  which  was  stationed  in  the  Court  House  and  the  other 
near  the  building. 

The  Indian  women  and  children  were  gathered  in  tlie 
yard  and  the  wan-iors  about  the  house. 

The  jail  occupied  the  corner  formed  by  the  east  line  of 
JIain  Plaza  and  the  north  line  of  wlnat  is  noAv  Market  street, 
and  to  the  north  of,  and  adjoining  it,  was  the  court  house. 
Both  buildings  were  of  stone,  one  story,  flat  roofed,  and 
dirt  floor. 

Col.  Fisher  opened  the  talk  by  iasking  the    chiefs    why 

»Gen.  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  had  refused  the  position  of  Secretary  of  War. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  313 

tliey  hiad  not  brought  in  all  of  the  prisoners,  thirteen  in  num- 
ber, which  they  were  known  to  have.  ]\Iuke-war-rah  replied 
that  they  had  brought  in  the  only  prisoners,  and  that 
the  others  were  with  bands  over  whom  they  had  no  control. 
Miss  Lockhart  was  theai  questioned,  and  said  that  she  had 
seen  several  prisoners  in  camp  a  few  days  previous,  and  that 
the  policy  determined  upon  by  the  Indians  was  to  bring 
them  in  one  at  a  time  and  thus  extort  large  ransoms.  She 
also  told  oi;  the  l)ruta]  treatment  and  indignities  t(^  which 
she  had  been  subjected.  The  chiefs  listened  in  haughty 
and  defiant  silence  while  she  spoke,  and  as  she  left  the  room 
they  became  restless  and  gave  evidence  of  their  feelings — • 
trouble  was  imminent. 

A  miessage  was  sent  Capt.  Howard,  and  he  marclied  into 
th'e  room  with  the  company  that  had  been  stationed  in  the 
yard,  drew  his  men  up  in  line  across  the  apartment,  and  sta- 
tioned himself  and  sentry  at  the  ciOsed  doors.  Capt.  Redd's 
company  was  ordered  to  the  lear  of  the  building,  and  had 
barely  arrived  there  when  the  fighting  began. 

In  the  yaa^d  were  Indian  boys  shooting  with  boA\  s  and 
arrows  at  marks,  for  small  coins  that  Judge  Robinson  was 
offering  them  as  prizes.  ]\Irs.  Maverick  and  other  ladies 
were   looking   on   tb.rough  cracks  in  the  fence. 

When  Howard's  company  Lad  been  brought  to  paj'ade 
rest,  Col,  Fisher  arose  and  addressed  the  chiefs.  He  re- 
proached them  with  their  former  perfidy,  and  fo.r  violating 
the  terms  of  the  s.ubsisting  agreement.  In  conclusion,  he 
asked  them  if  they  recollected  murdering  two  white  men 
while  under  a  wdiite  fla,g, 

A  Comanche  chief  arose,  and  with  an  audacity  and  an 
insolence  of  tone  and  manner  that  could  not  be  exicee-ded,  re- 
plied, "No,  we  do  not  recollect,"  and  seated  himself,  after 
the  Indian  fashion. 

Silence  ensued.  It  was  broken  by  the  chief  again  aris- 
ing, tumin'g  toward  Col.  Fisher  with  an  air  at  once  con- 
temptuous and  threatening,  and  demanding  in  a  loud  voice, 
''How  do  you  like  our  answer?" 

Col.  Fisher  replied:  "I  do  not  like  vour  answer.    I  told 


314  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

you  not  to  come  iiere  agam  Avilhout  brimging  in  the  p'rdso- 
ners.  You  liave  come  against  my  orders.  Your  women  and 
children  may  depart  in  peace,  and  your  braves  may  go  and 
tell  your  people  to  send  in  the  prisoners.  When  those  pris- 
oners are  returned,  you  and  the  other  chiefs  here  present 
may  likewise  go  free.  Until  then  we  will  hold  you  a's  hos- 
tages."' 

The  interpreter  had  to  be  told  twice  to  report  this  dec- 
laration ;  protesting  that  a  conflict  would  immediately  foUaw. 
As  soon  as  he  uttered  the  woi'ds  he  left  the  room.  True  to 
his  predictiotn,  the  chiefs  strung  their  bows,  and  drew  their 
knives. 

'  In  his  official  report.  Col.  McLeod  saysi.-  "We  told  the 
chiefs  that  the  soldiers  they  saw  were  their  guards,  and 
descended  from  the  platform.  They  inimediately  folloiwed. 
One  oif  them  sprang  to  the  back  door  and  attempted  to  pass 
the  sentinel  who  presented  his  musket,  Avhen  the  chief  drew 
his  knife  and  etabbteid  liim.  A  rush  'w^as  .tben  miade  to  the 
door.  Ciapt.  Howard  collared  ane  of  them!  and  received  a 
severe  stab  in  the  side.  Howard  tried  ito  use  his  sword, 
but  it  wias'  too'  lomg  for  service  in  a  breast  to  breast  stanig- 
gle,  and'  all  he  could  do  wais  to  seize  the  Indiain's  wrist, 
which  he  held  till  faint  from  losis  of  blood.  He  ordered  the 
sentinel  to  fire  upon  his  antagonist,  which  he  did  and  the 
Indian  fell  dead.  Col.  Fisher  ordea^ed,  'FLre  if  they  do  not 
desist.'  The  Indians  rushed  on  and  fought  desperately,  and  a 
general  order  to  fire  became  necessary. 

"After  a  short,  but  desperate,  struggle  every  one  of 
the  twelve  chiefs  in  the  oouincil  room  lny  dead  upon  tJie 
floor. 

"The  indoor  w»rk  being  finished,  Capt.  Howard's  com- 
pany was  formed  in  front  to  prevemt  retreat  in  that  direc- 
tion; but  in  comisequenee  of  the  severity  of  hi®  wound,  he 
was  relieved  by  Capt.  Gilleai,  who  eommianded  the  company 
till  the  close  of  the  action." 

The  bystanders  in  the  room  had  to  fight  for  their  livea 
as  'well  as  the  I'eist.  Judge  John  Hemphill  (them  District 
Judge  and  later  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme    Coairt)    was 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  315 

one  of  them,  ajidi  disemTboweled  wit5i  a  bowie  knife,  one  of 
tbe  chiefs,  who  grappled  with  him. 

Tlie  Indiiansi  outside  the  hous(e  fought  like  wild  beasts. 
Capt.  Redd's  ooanpany  eomimg  up  promptly  in  the  rear  of  the 
building,  dTove  tiiem  towaa'd  a  stiom^e  building,  wliicli  only 
oaie  oif  them  'sni'Ccieed  in  entering.  Several  whiite  meoi  were 
killed  land  wounded.  The  Mdian  arroATO  with  which  they 
were  struck  wei^e  driven,  to  the  feathers.  Several  Indians 
were  killed  in  ladgacemt  streets  and  yards  by  citizens.  A 
smaM  number  of  the  savages  managed  to  reach  the 
river,  but  were  pursued  and  killed  by  ]\Iaj.  Lysander  Well-s 
aaid)  a  few  other  mounted  men,  only  oaie  of  tiheir  party — a 
renegrade  Mexican — escaping.  Three  w-onueoi  and  two  boys, 
who  tctok  piart  in  the  fray,  were  slain, 

Wdisihing  to  spare  the  warrior  in.  t(he  stoaie  builddng,  the 
commissioners  sent  in  an  Indian  woman  to  tell  him  to  surren- 
der and  be  spared.  He  refused  the  offer,  and  continued  to 
fiilioot,  wounding  several  persons.  After  dark,  a  Mexican 
crawled  on  top  of  the  house,  picked  a  bole  in  tlie  roof,  and 
dropped  a,  large  ignited-  biall  of  cloth  saturated  with  tiurpem- 
tine  into  the  room,  for  tihe  purpoise  of  ligiliting  up  the  inter- 
ior so  the  occupant  could  be  seen.  The  ball  fell  on  the  In- 
dian's head  anid  "Stucik  thejpe,  and  he  ruislied  into  tbe  sitreet 
covered  with  flame.  He  was  instantly  riddled  with  bullets. 
Twenty-eight  Indian  women  and  cibildrem  were  detained  as 
prisoners. 

The  Texan  loss  was,  killed:  Judge  James  W.  Robinson; 
Judge  Hood  of  San  Antonio ;  Judge  THiompson  of  Hooston ; 
Casey  of  Matagorda  county;  Lieut.  W.  M.  Dunnington,  1st  In- 
fantry ;  Privateis  Kaminske  and  Whiting,  and  a  Mexican. 
Wounded:  Capt.  G-eorge  T. Howaird,  Lieut.  EdKvard  A, 
Thompson  and  private  Kelley,  severely,  and  Capt.  Matthew 
Caldwell,  and  Mr.  Higgenbottom  and  Deputy  Sheriff  Mor- 
gan and  Private  Carson,  slightly.  Col.  McLeod  says:  "Ov- 
er a  bundred  hor'ses  anld  -a  large  quantity  of  buffalo  robes 
and  peltries  remiaiaed  to  tbe  victors." 

By  request  of  the  prisoneirs,  one  squaw  was  released, 
provisioned'  and  allowed  to  go     to  her  people   and  say  that 


316  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

the  prisoners  would  be  released  whenever  the  Texan  prisoners 
held  by  the  Inddans  were  broiig'ht  in. 

A  short  time  afterward  a  party  of  Comamehes  dis- 
played a  'white  flag'  on  la  hill  soone  di:stain(ce  friom  t-owai,  evi- 
dently afraid  to  eome  nearer.  Wlien  a  flag  wasi  mmit  out  it 
was  found  it)hia;t  they  had  binoiught  in  several  Avliite  children 
to  exchange  foT^  their  people.  Their  miission  was  snicoessfnl 
and  they  hurried  away. 

The  Telegiraph  acnd  Texas  Register  g'ave  an  account  of 
the  following,  among  other  incidents  of  the  Council  H©use 
Fight : 

"Capt.  Matthew  Caldwell,  1st  Regiment  of  Infantry,  was 
in  the  istreat  unarmed  when  the  strng-gle  Otomraeniced.  He 
stepped  into  a  ho.ujse  to  see  if  he  could  procure  a  gun. 
No  one  was  at  luome,  and  he  pasised  into  the  bacJs:  yard. 
Tliere  he  was  confronted  by  an  Indian  warrior,  M^ho  made 
ready  to  shOiOt  h;im.  Caldwell  stooped  down  and  picked  up 
a  rock,  which  he  threw,  hitting  the  warrior  on  the  forehead, 
slightly  stunning  him.  Caldwell  continued'  to  tlirow  stones, 
hurlim.g  theui  bo  fast,  that  f o.r  dodging,  the  Indian  diid  not 
get  la  chanee  to  take  aim  aaid  let  fly  an  arrow.  While  tihis 
unequal  eombat  was  in  progress  John  D.  Morris,  witli  only  a 
three  inch  barrel,  single  shot  pistol,  eame  into  the  inclosure. 
Caldwelil,  who  was  nearly  exhausted,  called  out,  'Go  up  and 
shoot  him  Jolin,  or  he  will  get  niH\  I  will  keep  him  on  the 
jump  with  stones.' 

"Morris  did  as  requested,  walking  to  wiit-hin  fooiir  feet  of 
the  Indian  and  shooting  him  throfugh  the  he-art. 

"Deputy  Sheriff  Morgan  (one  of  Deaf  Smith's  men) 
wias  standing  in  the  back  yard  of  a  residence  wluen.  three 
warriors  scaled  the  wall  and  attacked  hi^m.  Although  wound- 
ed, he  picked  up  a  rock  and  fractuireil  the  skull  of  one  of 
his  asisailant®  with  it  killing  him.  He  theoi  seizied  an  axe  and 
retreated  into  the  house,  where  he  stationed  himself  at  one 
side  of  the  open  door.  The  two  re-maining  Indians  aitt-emp- 
ted  to  follow  liim,  and  he  killed  tliiem  mth  terrific  blows, 
dealt  with  the  axe." 

A  Grerman  dotctor,  who  was  a  local  celebrity  and  a  man 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  317 

ol  scientific  ttuste  'smd  attaiimnentis,  came  u.pciQ'  tlhe  body  of 
onie  of  tliie  Indiiains  killed  by  IMorgian  and,  being  impressed  by 
the  pecailiar  buimpis  on  tibe  bead,  toot  it  foir  jmrpose  oif  diis- 
sec'ting  it.  He  was  mnicb  dfegusted  to  find  that  the  protub- 
erance we.re  nort  natural  deveilopiemeaitis,  but  due  to  the  sknll 
being  fractured  in  thirty-two  places.  He  later  boiled  one  Oif 
tbe  bodies,  remoived  the  flesb  from  tbe  bones,  amd  articulated 
the  complete  skeleton,  whicb  he  placed  in  bis  cabinet.  In<ii- 
dently,  he  emptied  the  refuse  into  the  Acequia,  from  which 
cittizeirus  procured  d^rink'ki'g  water.  The  fact  becoming  known, 
he  istated  that  the  deposit  was  made  w;hen  e^ierybody  was 
asleep  ait  night  lanid  the  stream  was  completieily  p^urified  be- 
fore water  wais  lagiain  taken  from  it  for  drinking  or  cooking 
purposes.  Nothing  bnit  his  populan-ity  sayed  him  from  en- 
for'Ced  emigration. 

IMarieih  28(tlli,  t^^•o•.  haindned  and  fifty,  or  tliree  hundred, 
Comanche®  'came  cliosie  to  San  Antonio,  and  chief  Isimanca 
and  another  warrdoir  of  their  niijmber,  rede  diariaigly  into  tbe 
public  square,  and  circled  around  tbe  plaza,  then  (rode  somie 
distance  down  Com-mexce  stneet  and  baek,  sboutinig  all  tlie 
while;,  offeriinig  to  figbt,  and  showerin'g  abnse  and  insnlts  on 
the  Americans.  "Isimanca  was  in  full  war  paint  and  almost 
naked.  He  stopped  quite  awbile  in  frooit  oif  Blnck's  saloon, 
on  tbe  nonthea-it  coirnea'  of  the  square.  He  shouted  defiance, 
rose  in  his  stirrups,  shook  his  cle<nelied  fitst,  raved  and 
foamed  at  tbie  m.oiiith.  Tbe  -oitizens,  through  an  interpreter, 
told  him  that  tbe  soldie.ns  were  all  dowm  at  tlie  Mission  San 
Jose,  and  if  he  went  there  Colonel  Fisher  would  give 
bim  fight  enouigh." 

He  proceeded  at  cncie  to  the  ^lissitcm  and  repeated  bis 
chalilenge.  Col.  Fisher  was  sick  in  bed  and  Catpit.  Redd  was 
in  command  of  tbe  past. 

Redd  replied  to   Isimanca  by  sa'jiiri'g  that  a  twelve  days 
truce  had  been  ente.rt-id  imto  ^^  ith  the  Comanches  and  be  had 
orders     not     to    break    it,   but  if  the  chief    and     his     Avar- 
rioj's  would  return  Avhen  the  truce  wais  at  an  end,  they  ^vo'uld 
be  accomodated. 


318  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Isimanca  denoun<ied  him  and  hm  mjem  as  cowao^dis  omd 
finally  left. 

Yoakum  says:  "The  Comanches  hung  about  San  Antiofli- 
m  in  ismtall  parties  brooidinig  ovea*  their  loiss.  The  killing  oi 
so  miany  of  thedr  chiefs  wais  a  'Seviere  istr.o(ke,  ajidl  they  were 
divided  on  the  que&tiom  of  war.  At  length  they  retired!  (to 
their  homes,  on  the  upper  branch  of  the  Texa«  rivers,  to 
make  serious  preparations  for  a  terrible  visitation  oai  the 
wliite  settlements,"* 

Branch  T.  Archer  wa-s  appoianted  secretaxy  of  War,  and 
Col.  William  G.  Cook  sucoeeded  Col.  Edward  Burleson  as 
Coloniel  o-f  .infantry. 

In  May,  the  Republic  was  aroused  by  rumors  of  an  im- 
pending military  invasiooi  from  Mexico,  to  be  aiccompanied  by 
Indians  employed  as  allies  of  the  Mexican  troops. 

Orders  were  isisuied  under  ^v'llich  a  large  forcC'  of  Texas 
volmrteers  assembled  for  the  purpose  of  orgamizkiig  an  army 
for  resistance. 

Upoaa  'the  receipt  of  other  informatioai  tliat  wa;s  deemed 
a'eliable  to  the  effect  that  no  such  bostile  movcmcait  was 
likely  to  take  plaice' — they  wiere  disbanded. 

The  incident  was  designated  as  the  "Arclicr  War" 
and  provoked  much  adverse  and  undeserved  criticism. 

In  the  early  days  of  July,  Capt.  Clemdeniini  left  San  An- 
tonio in  coamnand'  of  a  volunteer  expedition  against  the  Co- 
manches,)but  afterwards  retnirncd  to  tlie  town  leavng  Capt.  J. 
R.  Cunaiingliam  and  a  force  oif  nineteen  menj  on  the  Frio.  In 
an  of^'icial  report  by  Cunningham  he  says  that  after  they 
parted  July  4th,  he  crossed  tV.e  FriiO  (on  the  same  dlay)  and 
came  upon  a  fresh  Indian  trail,  which  he  pursued  for  several 
miles  up  the  westtern  side  of  tlie  stream,  espeetim/g  every 
moment  to  come  upon  the  enemy.      The  trail    finally     bore 

♦  Mar.h  26th,  Mrs.  Webstfr  came  ntoSfn  Anton  Jo  a  ith  her  three- j  e;=.i -«i  c  \  :.) :.  upon 
her  back,  liavinp  escaped  frorp  the  Conirchth  by  whom  the  had  been  caplurrd  tfie  prtvi- 
ons  year  when  her  husband  and  party  had  been  killed  on  BruBhy  Creek,  near  Gforpetown. 
She  presented  a  most  wretched  and  pitiable  appearance  and  was  almott  ismished. 
Friends  cared  for  and  ministered  to  her. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  319 

away  from  ithe  iriver,  and  lie  followed  it  without  stopping 
to  get  water.  After  proceeding  for  some  time,  men  and 
h^rsies  began  to  suffer  greatly  from  want  of  wiater.  It  was 
not  practicaible  to  return  to  the  river,  without  abandoning 
the  chase.  He  lanjd  the  men  determined  to  go  on.  This  they 
did,  knowing  that  the  Indians  would  stop  at  the  first  water 
liole  and  wiould  probably  make  a  stubborn  fight  for  its  reten- 
tion. 

Betjween  5  and  6  o'cloick  p.  m.,  Antonio,  a  Tonkaway 
scout  employed  by  th-e  company,  and  who  had  been  kept 
considerably'  in  advance  of  the  command,  rode  back  and  re- 
ported that  the  Indians — twenty  warriors — were  at  a  spring 
just  ahead  and  were  saddling  their  aniiuials  preparatory  to 
resuming  their  journey.  Cunningham  and  those  of  his  men 
who  were  with  him  cautiously  approached  the  plaiee  anid  took 
position  within  a  short  distance  of  the  Indians  -without  being 
perceived.  He  waited  a  few  moments  for  his  rea-r  file  to 
come  up  and  dress  into  line  before  ordering  a  charge.  While 
this  movement  was  being  executed  onie  of  his  men  aocident- 
ly  discharged  a  gun,  and  the  Indians  leaped  into  tlieir  sad- 
dles anci  applied  the  whip.  He  and  hisanen  charged  at  once, 
killing  Indians  right  and  left.  The  surviving  savages  labor- 
■ed  to  reach  tbickets  some  distance  ahead.  When  all  of  them 
were  wounded  except  three,  the  latter  prote^cited  the  retreat 
of  the  band  in  a  manner  that  he  repeatedly  speaks  of  "as 
noble."  He  says  that  one  of  the  three  w-as  under  fire  of 
ten  or  trwelve  of  the  best  shots  on  the  frontier,  but.  acted 
with  cool  intrepidity  to  the  last.  A  rifle  ball  finally  shat- 
tered his  leg,  and  he  fell  over  on  his  horse,  just  a,s  he  and 
the  remnant  of  the  band  reached  <ioveT..  Ciuiningham  cap- 
tured all  the  effects  oif  the  Indians.  He  says  thait  he  made 
"a  bonnfire  of  most  of  their  ti-urapery"  and  divided  the 
balance  of  their  "plunder"  among  the  volunteeis  by  lot. 
The  most  impoj-tant  pairt  of  his  capture  was  a  caballado  of 
horses  and  mules — a  total  of  sixteen.  He  reached  San  An- 
tonio July  7th. 


320  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

THE      GREAT     COMANCHE  RAID— SACKING    OF    LIN- 
VILLE  AND  BURNING  OF  VICTORIA. 

During  the  first  week  in  August,  following  the  Council 
House  Fight,  and  other  bloody  affrays,  narrated,  occurred  the 
Great  Comanche  Raid;  in  some  respects  the  most  formiidable 
invasion  ever  made  by  Indians  into  Texas. 

This  raid  was  known  to  and  encouraged,  if  not  nLaterial- 
ly  aided,  by  the  Mexican  authorities — especailly  Gen.  Cana- 
lizo  'dt  Matamoras — and  shows  to  have  been  well  plainned, 
with  some  degree  of  military  stj-ategy.  The  descent  was 
sudden,  but  the  alarm'  spread  as  if  borne  on  the  wings  of 
the  wind  and  the  brave  defenders  of  our  frontier  were  soon 
collected  under  their  favorite  leadjers  and  went  in  pursuit, 
oviertaking,    engagijng,   and  routing  the  murderers. 

This  remarkable  affair  marks  an  important  epoch  in 
Texas  history,  and  indiced  most  of  our  historians  regard  it 
as  the  turning  point  in  affairs  with  the  Indians.  Majny  par- 
tial and  often  erroneous  accounts  of  this  bold  upriising  and 
its  timely  quelling,  have  been  published.  Fortunately  we  are 
en'abled  to  give  the  facts  as  detailed  by  thoeie  in  authority 
on  matters  pertiaining  to  our  border  history.*  It  is  not  our 
purpose  to  enter  into  the  details  of  matters  leading 
up  to  and  resulting  in  this  bold  raid — that  belongs  to  the 
history  of  Texas  proper  and  has  much  to  do  with  the  po- 
litical attitude  of  JMexico  towf.rd  the  struggling  Texas  Re- 
pul)lic. 

The  unfortunate  Council  llor.se  traigcdy  doubtless  hast- 
ened  the  movements  of  this  expedition,  the  enraged  Co- 
manelios,  svrearing  to  avenge  the  death  of  their  fallen  chiefs. 
The  Indians  to  the  number  of  about  one  thousand,  begam 
the  descent  from  their  stronghold  in  the  mountains  above  the 
San  I'.larcos  and  extending  tlicir  raid  across  the  country  to 
Liavaca  Bay  on  the  coiast,  and  back  to  Good's  Croissing  on 
Plum  Creek,  twenty  miles  south  ^vpist  of  Auisitin,  Avliere  tliey 


*PIuch  of  thf  data  used  in  the  preparatirn  of  this  narrative  wa?  furnished  the  au- 
thor by  the  late  Dr.  Rufas  ('.  Biirlescn  a  short  t-n  e  before  his  death,  expressly  for  Bor- 
der Wars  of  Texas. 


DEATH 


OF  CAPT.  JOHN   B.  DENTON-PAGE    357 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  321 

were  inteixj^epted:  amd  routed,  losing  ail  tht-ir  prisoners  and 
property  captured  at  Victoria  aud  Linville. 

The  IndiaiLs  pa&se-d.  d<xvvn  the  country  during  tlie  firat 
days  of  August,  leaving  Gonzales  seventeeai  miles  to  the 
west,  and  murdering  a  few  families  as  they  passed  through 
the  sparsely  settled  country,  '■'  they  reached  the  quiet  town 
of  Victoria  at  2:30  o'clock  p.  m.  on  August  6.  The  citizens 
were  not  dreaming  of  Indians.  Children  were  playing  in  the 
yards,  and  on  the  sttreets,  laddes  were  shopping  and  joj-fuHty- 
engaged  in  their  domestic  affairs,  the  men  were  at  their 
usual  vocations,  when  the  bloody  demons  "with  liorrid  yeEa 
rushed  into  the  streets  land  began  their  slaughter.  Di'.  Gray 
and  a  few  others:  who  attempted  resistaneie  were  cut  down. 
The  citizens  not  killed,  took  refuge  in  their  housies  and 
fortified  themselves  an  best  they  could.  The  Comanchfiis 
then  plundered  the  stoi-es  and  pri\^ate  residencies  of  every- 
thing valuable.  They  caught  in  the  lots  and  pastures  be- 
tween two  and  three  thous-and  h,orsies  and  mules  and  loaded 
eigliit  hundred  or  a  tliousand  of  them  with  the  goods 
plundered.  They  started  on  to  Linville.  .  That  night  thiey 
kindled  biig  fires  and  with  fiendish  joy  danced  and  yeiled 
around  the  scalps  of  murdered  citizens  and  their  plunder. 

Next  morning  they  hun-ied  on  to  Linville,  on  the  way 
capturing  Mvh.  Crosby,  grand-daughter  of  the  celebrated 
Daniel  Bcione  of  Kenitucky,  with  her  child  and  a  nurse. 
About  daylight,  on  August  the  8th,  wdiile  m'any  of  the  citi- 
zens were  in  bed,  the  Indians  entered'  Linville  and  thiNiwing 
theanstelvcs  on  the  sides  of  their  horses  and  riding  in  this 
way,  deceived  the  few  early  risers  who  siaw  them  coming 
but  thought  they  were  some  of  the  usual  caballados  of  horses 
and  mules  brought  into  Linville  for  sale  and  sliipmcnt. 

No   laniguage  can  tedl  the'  liorror  of  the  innocent  people 

*  "At  the  time  of  this  raid,"  says  John  Henry  Brown,  "the  country  between  the 
Guadalupe  and  San  Marcos,  on  the  west,  an'^l  the  Colorado  on  the  ease.  alx)ve  a  line  drawn 
from  Gonzales  to  La  Grange,  was  a  wilderness,  while  between  that  line  it  was  thinly  set- 
tled. Between  Gonzales  ard  Austin,  on  Plum  Creek,  were  two  recent  settlers— Isom  J. 
Good  and  John  A.  Neil.  From  Gonzales  to  within  a  few  miles  of  Austin  there  was  not  a 
settler.  There  was  not  one  between  Austin  and  San  Antonio.  A  road  from  Gonzales  t« 
Austin  had  been  opened  in  July,  18.S9." 


322  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

whten  they  saw  a  thiousanidi  red  demons  suddenly  lising  in 
tbeir  saddles  and  with  fi^ndlish  yells  killing  the  defense- 
less citizens,  some  of  them  in  their  beds.  Resislanee  was  ut- 
terly useless  and  the  terror  stricken  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren rushed  for  the  smal  boats  lying  in  Lavaca  Bay.  The 
warwhoop  of  the  wild  Comanehes,  the  ei-ies  of  women  and 
children  and  the  groans  of  the  dying,  presented  a  scene  of 
horror  upon  which  the  rising  sun  never  before  dawned.  The 
oloody  demons  pursued  the  fleeing  men,  women  and  child- 
ren into  tbe  Avater.  Amiong  those  killed  was  Captain  H.  O. 
Watts,  collector  of  cusitoms.  He  and  his  beautiful  bridge 
were  captured  between  the  shore  and  the  boats.  He  was 
killed  ami  his  young  bride  was  ruthlessly  dragged  back  to 
the  shore  and  carried  sxw&y  as  oaptdve.  The  majority  of 
the  inliabitants  escap<ed  to  the  boats,  but  aill  ofthers  were 
murdered   or   carried   away   captives. 

Linville  was  the  shippirbg  point  for  a  large  portion  of 
Soutli-wiestern  TVxas  and  IMexico  and  was  at  that  time  well 
supplied  with  all  sorts  of  luerehandise.  The  exulting  Co- 
manehes greedily  sacked  the  stores  and  private  residences 
and  packed  several  hundred  more  hoirses  and  mulles  with 
every  kind  of  merchandise,  eiegiant  dresses  and  bed  clotbes 
from  private  residences,  T!hey  now  bedecked  themselves 
with  red  ribbons  and  gay  Clothing  captured,  and  rode  up 
and  down  the  streets  yielling  like  demons  and  fired  the 
tOAvn,  burning  every  house  except  one. 

What  language  can  express  the  horror  of  the  innocent 
men,  women  and  childiren  as  they  stood  on  the  boats  in  the 
bay  and  looked  upon  their  once  happy  homes,  burning  to 
ashes,  and  remembering  many  of  their  loved  ones  lay  bleed- 
ing; in  til"  strt'cls ! 


BATTLE   AT  PLUM  CREEK. 

The  exulting  Comanehes,  with  three  or  four  thousand 
horses  and  mules,  m.an(y  of  them  heavily  packed  with  goods 
plundered  at  Victoria  and  Linville,  began  their  retreat.  They 
had  glorious  visions  of  tJi'e  grand  feasts  and  "War  Dances" 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  323 

they  would  have  wheal  they  reached  their  mountain  home 
and!  displayed  the  scalps  and  the  untold  wealth,  and  the 
women  and  children  they  had  captured. 

But,  says  one,  God  gave  Texas  heroes  and  path-finders, 
who  were  ever  ready  to  avenge  such  bloody  raids.  Among 
these  were  "Old  Gotch"  Hardeman,  Henry  McCuUoch,  John 
H.  Moore,,  "Paint"  Caldwell,  Ed.  Burleson  and  others. 

The  vigilant  Ben  McCulloch  with  a  small  force,  w^as  al- 
ready in  pursuiiti — ^and  im  fact  had  engaged  the  enemy.  He 
sent  Burleson  the  folloAving  dispatch:  "General:  The  Indians 
have  isaebed  and  burned  the  town  of  Linville,  and  carried 
off  several  prisoners.  We  made  a  draw  fight  with  them  at 
Casa  Blancof— could  not  stop  them.  We  want  to  fight  them 
befo-re  they  get  to  the  uDOuntains.  We  have  sent  express- 
men up  the  Guadalupe." 

Mesisengeis  rode  swift  in  every  direction,  and  at  a  mo- 
ment "s  warning,  every  man  sei/.ed  his  gun,  mounted  and 
rushed  to  the  place  of  rendezvous.  Those  neaa-  La  Grange 
met  at  Col.  Jno.  H.  Moore's,  those  neaa-  Bastrop  met  at  Gen. 
Ed.  Burleson Vs,  those  near  Webberville  at  "Paint"  Cald- 
well's, and  all  concentrated  at  the  point  suggested  by  G^n. 
Burleson,  who'  ordered  all  to  meet |and  attack  tlie  Comanches 
at  Good's  Crossing  on  Plum  Creek,  two  miles  from  where  the 
town  of  Locbhart  now  stands  and  twenty^even  miles  below 
Austin.  The  graaid  old  hero  Paint  Caldwell  with  eighty- 
two  men,  first  reached  the  place  of  rendezvous  August  1. 
Next  morning  the  scouts  reported  a  thousand  Indians  coming 
on  the  prairie  with  vast  herds  of  horses  and  muiles,  and  sev- 
eral women  and  children.  But  Burleso'n,  nor  Moore,  nor  Mc- 
CuUoch, nor  Hardeman  had  arrived;  was  it  safe  for  eighty- 
two  men  to  attack  a  thousand  Couianches.'  IIoMever.  as  they 
looked  upon  the  awful  spectacle,  and  saw^  them  moving  along 
with  women  and  children,  Caldwell  could  hold  in  no  longer, 
but  yedled  out:  •"B-./ys.  yonder  they  go  and  they  have 
got  our  wiomen  and  childre!ni — they  are  a  thousamd  strong^ — 
but  we  can  whip  hell  out  of  them!  Shall  we  fight?"  All 
shouted,  "Yes,  fight,  fight!" 

But  at  that  time  a  courier   eame    galloping    up      crying, 


324  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

"General  Burlesooi  with  (me-  hundred  Texans  and  thirteen 
Tonkawas  and  old  Pllacido  are  coming!"  In  tiie  meantime 
(jten.  Felix  Huston  arrived,  and  as  IMajor  General  of  the  mi- 
litia, took  command. 

The  Indians  were  exceedingly  anxious  to  deifer  the  bat- 
tle until  they  could  get  their  packmules  with  the  vast 
plunder  and  captured  women  and  children  beyond  reach 
of  the  infuriated  Texans.  And  General  Huston  was  equaUy 
anxious  to  defer  the  battle  until  mo-re  recruits  came.  Several 
bluff  old  Indian  fighters  told  him  h-e  knew  nothing  aboiut 
fighting  Indians,  that  he  ought  to  resign  and  let  Gen  Burle- 
son command.  But  this  was  Gen.  Huston's  first  chance  for 
gkxrv-.  The  Indian  chiefs  did  all  in  their  power  to  intimi- 
date the  Texians  and'  hold  them  back  until  they  could  get 
their  plunder  and  captives  far  removed.  Sevetral  of  the  In- 
dian chiefs  charged  up  in  f i-ont  of  the  Texana  and  hiurled  de- 
fiant arrows  andi  spears  at  them.  One  of  these  dating  chiefs 
rode  a  fine  horse  with  a  fine  -American  bridle,  with  a  red  rib- 
bon eight  or  ten  feet  long  tied  to  the  tail  of  his  hoa-se.  He 
was  dressed  in  elegant  style  from  the  goods  pluu'dered  at 
Victoria  and  Linville,  with  a  high-toj)  silk  hat,  fine  pair  of 
boots,  leather  glo-ves  and  an  elegant  broad-cloth  coat  hind- 
part  betore  with  brass  buttoois  shining  hi'igihtJy  up  and 
down  his  back.  When  he  first  made  his  appearance  he  car- 
ried a  large  umbrella  stretched.  He  and  otherts  would 
charge  upon  the  Texans,  shoot  their  arrows,  aud  retreat. 
This  was  done  sieveral  times'  in  reach  of  our  guns.  Soon 
the  discovery  was  made  that  they  wore  shields,  and  though 
our  men  took  good  aim,  the  bullets  glanced.  An  oMj  Texan, 
getting  as  near  the  place  as^  was  safe,  waited  patiently  tili 
they  came  up,  and  as  the  Indian  wheeled  his  hoi'se  his 
shield  flew  up.  The  Texan  fired  and  baio!u,g/ht  him  to  the 
ground.  Several  othere  fell  at  the  same  time.  Then  the  In- 
dians began  their  retreat,  and  woadd  soon  have  been  be^'ond 
the  reach  of  the  Texans, 

Gen.  Huston  was  nofw  told  by  the  gallant  ^McCulloch 
and  Gen.  Burleson  that  the  time  had  come  when  tlie.v  must 
fight,  and  he  reliuetantly  gave  the  oi'der,  "Gliarge!"    Never 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  325 

was  a  oommitaaid  obeyedi  with  wilder  shouts.  Every  man 
was  a  hero,  and  th^  conscience-stricken,  blood-stained  Co- 
manches  were  swept  away  like   chaff   before   a   tornado. 

Tihe  Indians  fkd  in  wild  confusion.  Not  one  thought 
of  saving  anything  but  his  own  scalp.  They  abandloned 
their  three  thousand  liorses  and  plunder,  and  the  captured 
women  and  children.  But  they  eould  not  forego  the 
fiendish  pleasure  of  murdering  Mrs.  Crosby,  her  child 
and  nurse.  Tihey  also  (shot  an  arrow  into  the  bosoan  of  the 
lovely  jxmnig  bride,  Mrs.  Watts,  and  left  her  as  dead.  But 
Rev.  Z.  N,  Morrell  ajid  Dr.  Brown  heard  her  sci-eams  in 
a  thicket  and w^ent  to  her  assistance.  They  extracted  the 
arrofw,  and  she  recovered  and  lived  many  yeaj's — never  for- 
getting hei'  awful  expeiience — and  died  at  Port  Lavaca, 
in  1878. 

Tihe  enraged  Texans  pursued  the  Indians,  and  killed 
them  for  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  out,  till  they  finally  gaine<i 
safety  in  the  bi'akes  and'  mountains. 

Thus  ended  the  great  raid  of  1840 — ^the  most  remark- 
able in  our  bordea*  annals  so  far  as  Indian  affairs  are  con- 
cerned. It  was  a  wonderful  era  in  Texas  histoay;  imdeed  it 
was  the  turning  point.  Had  the  Comanches  been  success- 
ful, they  confidently  intended,  with  the  horses,  mules  and  ma- 
terials captured,  to  equip  a  formidable  war  party  od:  two  or 
three  thousand  Indians  for  a  grand  re-raid  down  the  Colo- 
rado' to  the  Gulf,  pluinderiaag  and  devastaiting  tJie  fairest 
portion  of  Texas,  lia  the  meantime  Generals  Canalizo  and 
WoU,  with  some  three  thousand  Mexiean  cavalry,  Avere  to 
rush  forward,  capturing  San  Antonio  anil  Austin,  Avith  all 
booty.  Chief  Bowles  and  his  Cherokees  Avere  to  move 
down  and  desitroy  the  eastern  portion  of  the  state;  tlie  Wa- 
cos,  Apaches  and  allied  tribes  raiding  doAvn  the  Brazos,  and 
central  Texas,  thus  utterly  wiping  out  the  Texans.  "But  in 
the  good  Providence  of  God,  we  had  heroes  true  and  brave, 
who  quickly  rallied,  and  uniting  under  their  tried  and  cho- 
sen leaders,  crushed  out  this  diabolical  purpose  for  the  ruin 
of   Texas.     The   defeated    and  routed  Comanches  fled  to  their 


326  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

mountain  homes,  overwhelmed  with  the  conviction  that  the 
Texans  were  quick  of  action,  fearlessly  brave,  and  inrvinicible 
of  purpose — ag^ainst  any  odds." 

The  savages  were  crestfallenj  amd  chagrinned,  and  sul- 
lenly retired  to  their  rn'Ofuaoitain  haunts  to  brood  over  defeat, 
and  to  plan  revenge — on  their  Mexican  alli-es,  Who  had 
failed  to  fulfill  their  agreement,  after  inciting  the  Indians 
and  promiisding  to  join  them  with  theia*  foaice^  in  a  grand  re- 
raid  of  the  whole  conn/try.  And  for  this  btrea^kiinig  of  faith 
it  is  said  the  Mexicans  suffered  severely.* 


HUSTON'S  OFFICIAL    REPORT. 

Many  thrilling  ittucidents  and  acts  of  indAviduaJ.  biravery 
on  the  pant  of  the  chiarging  Texams  might  be  related  did 
space  permit.  It  is  in  justice  to  the  subject  that  the  o(ffi- 
ciai  repoft't  of  the  commander  of  tlie  forces  should  be  given 
■ — (Supplying,  as  it  does,  important  facts — and  it  follows: 
On  Plum  Creek,  5  miles  west  of  G*ood's. 

August  12,  1840. 
To  the  Hon.  B.  T.  Archer,  Secretary  o(f  War. 

I  arrived  on  yesterday  evening  and  found  Oapt.  CaiLd- 
well  enctamiped  oii  Plum  Creek  with  about  one  hundred  men. 
This  morning  I  was  requested  to  take  tlie  command,  which 
I  did,  with  the  consent  of  the  men.  I  organized  them  into 
comipamies,  under  the  command  of  Ciaptains  Caldwell,  Bird 
and  Ward.  About  6  o'clock  a.  m.  the  spies  reported  that 
Indians  were  approaching  Plum  Creek,  I  crossed  above 
the  trail  about  three  miles,  and  passed  down  on  the  west 
side ;  on  arriving  near  the  trail  I  was  joined  by  Col.  Burle- 
son with  about  one  hundred  men,  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Jones,  Lieut.  Col.  Wallace  and  Major  Hardeman.    I  imme- 

♦  "In  October  (1840)  more  than  400  warriors  penetrated  into  Mexico,  some  400  miles; 
they  killed,  scalped,  burned  and  destroyed  everything  they  could;  their  track  could  be 
traced  for  miles  by  the  burning  ranches  and  villages.  They  carried  off  a  great  many  fe- 
male captives,  and  thousands  of  horses  and  mules,  and  escaped  safely  to  their  strongholds 
in  the  monntains  with  their  booty.  The  State  of  Nueva  Leon  suffered  the  most  severely 
from  this  onset,  having  more  than  700  inhabitants  killed,  and  the  State  of  Coahuila  nearly 
as  many.— "Captain  Flack's  "The  Texas  Rifle  Hnnter,"  p.  133. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  327 

diately  foirtmcd.  int^  two  lines,  tlie  right  commanded  by  Col. 
Burle&on,  and  the  left  commanded  by  Csupt.  Caldrvvell,  "with 
a  reserve  commanded  by  Maj.  Hardeman,  with  Capt.  Ward's 
company.  On  advancing  neai-  the  Indians,  they  formed  for 
action,  with  a  front  of  wooKis  on  their  ri^ht,  (which  they  oc- 
cupied) ,  their  lines  extcindimig  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  into 
the  prairie.  I  dismounted  my  m^en  and  a  hamd'some  fire;  w^iS 
opened) — the  Indian  chaefe  cavorting  airoiind.  in  splemdid 
s'tyle,  on  front  and  flanik,  finely  mounted,  amd  dro^«.i^.«i;  in  all 
the  splendor  of  Comian<;lie  warfare.  At  this  time  ee^e.Bl  In- 
dians fell  firom  their  bor&es,  and  we  had  tliT^e  or  fonr  aniefli 
wounded.  Findiaig  that  the  Indians  were  disposed  to  k^p 
at  a  distance,  a^nd  that  a  laa'ge  body  w'ere  assembled  iai  the 
woods,  I  ordered  Col.  Burleson,  with  the  right  Avimg,  to  move 
aroiundi  the  point  of  woods,  and  Captain  Caldwell,  with  the 
left  wing,  to  charge  into  the  v.oods;  which  movements  were 
executed  in  gallant  styde.  The  IndianK  did  mot  stand  the 
charge,  and  fled  at  aU  poimts;  from  that  time  thexe  was  a 
warm  and  spiTited  pursuit  for  fifteen  miles;  the  Indi^jns 
scattered,  mostly  abamdoning  their  hoirses  amd  takimig  to  the 
thickets.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  animiatiooa  of  the  men, 
and  the  cool  and  steady  manner  in  which  they  would  dis- 
mounit  and.  dieliver  their  fire.  Upwards  of  forty  Indians  were 
killed' — t.MX)  prisoners  (a  squaw'  and  child)  taken;  and  we 
have  takiejxh  upwards  of  two  hundred  Jiorses  and  mules,  many 
of  them  heavily  packed  with  the  plunder  of  Linville  and  the 
lower  country.  There  is  still  a  large  amount  of  good  horses 
and  mules  w^hich  are  not  gathered  in.  Of  the  captives  taken 
by  the  Indians  below,  we  have  only  been  abflie  to' retake  one 
— Mrs.  Watts,  of  Linville — wlio  was  wounded  by  the  Indians 
with  an  arrow  wheai  thiey  fled.  Mrs.  Crosby  was  speared, 
and  'we  understamd  that  all  the  others  wene  kililed.  We  have 
lost  one  killed  and  seven  woiinded — one  mortally.  I  cannot 
speak  too  hiighly  of  the  Colorado,  Guadalupe  and  Lavaca 
militia,  assembled  so  hastily  together,  and  without  organiza- 
tion. I  was  assisted  by  Major  Izod,  Colonel  Bell,  Captain 
Howard  and  Captain.  Neil,  as  volunteer  aids,  all  of  whom 
renderied   essential   service.     Colonel   Burleson     acted     with 


^8  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

that  ■cool,  deliberate  amll  pi-ompt  courage  and  coaa<cluict  which 
he  has  iso  ofteni  and  gailamitly  displayed  im  almost  ev^eay  In- 
dian) and  Alexicaaii  battle  since  the  war  comincaiced.  Oapt. 
Caldw-ell,  also  a  tried  Imdiam  f  iglitcr,  led  on  his  wing  toi  the 
charge  with  a  bold  front  mad  a  cheerful  heart.  CoQonel 
Jomes,  Lieut.  Col.  Wallace,  JNIajor  liaT'demaai,  asnd  eacJi  of  the 
captains  eommandimg  companies,  acted;  with  tlic  utamoist  cour- 
age and  firmness-. 

To  conclude,  I  believe  we  have  glveai  the  Comanclies  a 
lesson  wiliich  thty  will  lofng  remember;  mear  four  hundred  of 
their  bravest  waiTiors  liave  been  defeated  by  lialf  tJheii' 
nuimber,  and  I  hope  and  truat  tliat  this  will  be  tllie  last  of 
theii*  <:lepredaition.s  on  our  frontier. 

On  tomorrow  I  contemplate  embodying  as  many  men  as 
I  caoi,  and  if  we  have  a  sufficient  nuinfber  otf  good  liorsies, 
puiisue  the  Indians,  in  the  hopes  that  we  may  overtake  tliem 
before  tlw?^'  reach  t.lie  mountains.  Colooiiel  I\Ioore  jointed  us 
this  eveninig  with  aboait  170  men,  horses  very  hard  ridden. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be. 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

Felix  Huston, 

Major-General,  T.  M. 


INDIANS  ATTACK  KINNEY'S  FORT  AND  ARE  RE- 
PULSED. 

During  August,  Kinne.y's  Fort  on  Brushy  Creek, 
about  eighteen  miles  fi-om  Austin,  Avas  attacked  by 
Indians.  They  expected  to  take  its  inmates  unawares, 
and  wouild  liave  done  so  had  it  not  been  for  Joseph 
Weeks.  He  heard  what  he  at  first  isupposed  toi  be  towls 
booting,  but  paid  little  attention  ito  the  sounds  until  he 
noted  many  answering  hoots  fiom  varioois  directions. 

He  listened  atitentively,  until  his  practiced  ear  assured 
him  that  the  cries  were  uttered  by  Irumian  throats,  and  then 
summoned  his  companion®  to  arms,  and  started  a  messenger 
to  the  nearest  settlement  for  assistance. 

This  action  was  taken;  none  too  soon,  as  the  hooting  was 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  323 

evidieoiitly  a  signal  of  attack,  and  the  Inidians  immediately 
tiiereiafter  riisliied  oai  tbe  place.  Tliey  wiene  mtet  by  a  dis- 
ehargie  of  riflits  that  sent  tJiem  leeling^baek.  Thiey  fought 
from  icovieT  for  sonne  time,  buit  finding  tbat.  there  was  no  pos- 
sibility iof  takdiiig  tlie  place  without  gre-ater  lofis  thiau  they 
e^red  to  sufstain,  drew  off  with  their  dead  and  wounded.  On- 
ly ojLe  man  in  the  fort  was  killed,  emd  only  ome  Avoundied. 

The  mesrsenger  re-aelied  his  deslinataon,  andi  a  coanipany 
oi  fifty  men  arri\Ted  a.t  the  fort  nexit  day — ^too  late  tO'  piur- 
STie  the  IndiaaiiS. 

KiniDiey  was  a  soldier  in  the  T^xas  army  during  the  inv- 
olution; resided  at  Bastroip  for  some  years,  and  later  nio%ed 
to  Brushy  Cove,  where  he  erected  the  stockade  tbat  bore  liis 
name.  The  atitack  was  proibably  made  before  ncAvs  of  the 
result  of  tile  battle  of  Flami  Creek  had  spread  among  tlie 
Indians,  for  after  it  became  generally  knotwn,  they  I'emained 
overawed  for  b^oane  time. 


JACK  HAYS  FIGHTS  LARGE  WAR  PARTY. 

In  the  fall  of  1840  a  party  otf  about  two  hundred  Co- 
manches  stole. a  large  number  of  lLoa*seis  near  Bmn  Antonio  and 
dirove  ,tliem  toward  tihe  G<uadialnpe  River. 

Capt.  John  C.  ("Jack")  IIay.s  and  ti^Tenty  men  went  in 
pursuit,  and  canne  upon  and  charged  tlie  Indianis  at  tlie 
crossing  of  the  Guadalupie. 

T<lie  redskins  awaited  the  onset,  expecting  to  ea^sily 
overwhelm  thieir  assailants  by  mere  force  of  numbers.  The 
plans  they  laM  for  that  purpose  went  '*agle.e".  Hay-s  and 
his  c^mradieis  had  a  love  of  fighting-  that  was  untinged  by 
fear,  and  tliat  was  fatal  to  thoise  they  encountered. 

The  headi  chief  was  s.peediily  killed,  and  tJie  Indians 
driven  into  complete  rout.  Hays  and  his  men  pursued 
them  for  s«vea'al  miles,  killing  a  number  of  them  and  recov- 
ering moist  of  the  stolen  hoi-ses. 


Satuirday,  September  1,  ]\Iichaed   Nasli,      a   caa^penter  of 
Bastrop  m'Iio  had  a  fondmesis  for  huniting,  killed  a  deer   in 


330  BORDER  WAIiS  OF  TEXAiS. 

the  wO'Oids  and  ,stant>e)d  home  witli  the  carcass  tied  beihiiMi  has 
saddle.  While  ridimig  alou/g,  he  was  fir^'d  upoia  andl  kMed 
by  Imdiaais,  who  sealfped  liim  and  toiotk  his  horse  and  its  load 
of  vendiston. 

His  body  was  found  niext  day  by  frieaids  whioi  wemtt  in 
s.earch  lotf  him.  His  eyes  had  been  pecked  out  by  buzzards, 
and  his  body  mutilated  by  the  Indians,  or  by  wolvies,  aXioxmt 
beyond  identificatiofn. 


CAPT.  ERATH'S  SERVICES. 

Septembea*  20,  Gren.  Felix  l^aton,  as  Major  Greneral  of 
the  Texas  militia,  transmitted  to  the  Speaker  of  the  House 
o*"  Reprosentativ€iB  a  oomniuni cation,  accompaniied  by  a  re- 
port foTAvarded  toi  him  by  Geo.  B.  Erath,  captiain.  of  a  spy 
company  that  he  hiad  plajccd  in  the  field.  Aft<eT  urging  pay- 
ment of  Captain  Erath  and  his  mien,  and  sayin'g  that  the  com- 
pany had  perfon^med  vialuable  se'^-vice,  he  continues:  "I  al- 
lud>e  principaFly  toi  the  discovery  of  the  Inidian  trail  above 
the  Waco'  village,  leadinig  far  into  tJie  mountains  and,  doubt- 
less, to  tlie  hom^es  of  our  savage  enemy.  This,  yon  wiil  im- 
mediately perceive,  will  greatly  facilitatie  out  army  in  oar- 
rykiig  into  effect  What  slioaild  be  the  'Oinly  poliicy  puaisued  to- 
ward® our  savage  inviadersi — utteir  lext^ermuiation.  " 

Captiain  Erath,  in  his  r/eport,  says  tbat  his  company 
killed  two  Indiaois,  and  that  various  parties  of  Indians  were 
seen  by  him,  but  fled  upon  the  approiaoh  oif  hi®  fone-e,  and 
burned  the  grass  behind  them.  The  information  furnished 
by  Erath  induced  the  Texas  Government  to  depute  Col.  Jno. 
H.  Moome  to  lead  am  expedition  to  the  home  of  the  Oo- 
manches  for  tihe  purpose  of  dealing  them   a   crushing  blow. 

The  Ajuistin  City  Gazette,  of  S-eptember  23,  says  tbat  a»n 
exp'edition  lagainist  'the  Indians  had  been  agreed  up'on,  in  aic- 
cordance  with  a  plan  lon'g  projected  by  Gen.  Felix  Huston; 
that  a  total  of  1600  men  were  to  be  raised  in  varioms  ^oimit- 
ties,  and  wer.e  to  invade  itih/e  Indian  country  at  different 
points;  that  the  volunteers  from  the  Colorado,  Brazos,  Trin- 
ity and  Neches,  would  leave  th-eir  respective  places  of  rem- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXA«.  331 

dezvoius  Novembeir  10,  a|nd  that  tliotse  firoan  Red.  River  would 
kavei  November  15.  Tlhe  paiper  says:  "The  Genertail  c-om- 
mjainding  was  ©ailed  toi  the  hon'Orable  start-ioini  he  noiw  fiiLls  by 
the  free  suffrages  'of  'his  fellojw  citizeaiB,  aoid  they  will  not 
hjow  diesiert  him."  It  declares  thait  tihe  wa<r  m  to  be  one  of 
exterminatiofli,  and,  commenting  <m  the  fact,  remarks: 
"Tihds  is  ais  it  slLoinlld  be;  for,  once  let  the  reds  be  taught 
to  fear  the  whites  and  to  respect  tlueiir  property,  and  peace 
and  ptrosiperity  wiilJl  reign  supreme  in  Texas,  immiigratiefa 
and  wealtih  will  fiow  iba  our  shores,  laaid  the  settlementisi  will 
in  a  sih€irt  time  be  puslied  terns,  aye  hiulcdreds  of  miles, 
above  tlie  present  frontier. ' ' 


BEGINNING  OF  SAN  MARCOS. 

In  an  official  repoo't*  dated  October  1,  Adfjutapt  and  In 
sptector  Gelneral  Hugfti  MeLeod  among  other  things  says  that 
the  detachmenit  of  rangers  at  San  Antonio  had  been 
stent  on  an  expedition,  and  that  a  company  had  been 
sent  to  the  head  of  the  Sam  Marcos  river  to  com-sitrruct  amd 
oecupy  a  fort,  whicli  was  to*  be  built  of  the  best  mateffials, 
as  it  was  desiigiiued  to  control  the  piass  thrcug'h.  the  moun- 
tain® at  that  point.  He  says  that  a  large  niuimfber  of  settlers 
would  looate  near  the  fort,  amd  if  it  w:as  propea-ly  main- 
tained, there  would  dm  a  few  years  be  a  sufficient  number  of 
them  to  proitect  themselves.  After  speaking  of  the  re- 
inforcemenlt  and  supplies  forwarded  to  Col.  Cooke,  ho  says; 
"Col.  Gooke  will  be  enabled  from  obseirviaitioms  om  his  pres- 
ent campaign,  to  repoirt  the  most  practicable  line  of  defense 
amd  settlement  om  our  fromtier  from  tbe  Colorado  to  Red 
River,  and  on  hiis  return  be  suffici'efntly  early  for  the  action 
of  Congress.  Amy  repoirt  at  present  miglit  appear  speoula- 
tvie  and  premiature;  but,  in  the  absence  of  accurate  infor- 
mataiom;  I  would  suggest  that  the  cross-timbers,  being  a 
wooded  and  well  watered  country,  seems  to  present  the 
most  continuous  line  for  siettlememts  and  coaumuni  cation 
£rom  Red  River  to  the  Brazos."    He  asserts,  and  laj-s  stress 


♦  Army  Archives. 


332  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

upon,  itlie  futility  of  employing  volunteer  foirces  enlisted 
for  shoi"*  periods — •emd,  paaitieuLaa-ly,  such  forces  when 
drawn  from  the  floataoi^g  population  of  towns,  as  they  felt 
no  interest  in  protecting-  tJie  fronltier,  or  the  success  of  cam- 
paigns. 


MOORE'S  GREAT  VICTORY. 

Presadent  Laanar  determined  to  carry  the  war  into  the  In- 
dian country  axid'  to  inflict  upon  the  Oomauiches  such  slaugh- 
ter as  'would  leave  tlijeni  no  longer  sufficient  power  or  conn- 
ate ttx)  inguire  the  whites.  Accoi'ddnjg'ly  Cod.  Jolm  II.  Mooon?^ 
with  t^vla  companies  of  eitizcn-volunteers,  a^gregaitio^g  ninety 
men,  dira'wn  mositly  fronn  Fayette  county  aoiid  captained  by 
Thos.  J.  Rabb  and  Nicholas  Dawson,  with  S.  S.  B.  Field,  a 
brilliant  lawyer  of  I^a  Giramge,  as  Adjutant — Cltark  L.  Owens 
of  Texania,  and  K.  Addison  Gillis.pie,  Lieutenta-nts ;  and  aug- 
mented by  twelve  trusty  Lipan  guides'  and  scouts  undKar 
their  chiefs,  Castro  and  Flaco — set  out  for  an  extended  cam- 
paign far  out  iuto  the  Indian  coaintry. 

Bireakang  camp  on  Walnut  Creek,  near  Austin,  on  Octo- 
ber 5,  1840,  the  coimpauy  bore  up  the  Colora'diOi  for  a  disitance 
of  some  300  miles  to-  the  vicinity  of  wheire  Colorado  City 
now  sitamds,  Oni  October  23,  the  Indian  itrail  was  found  oju 
the  Red  Fork  of  the  Colorado  and  dashiing  forward  the  Li- 
pani  spies  soooi  loc<ated  a  consdderable  villagie  of  Comaai- 
chesi — GO  wigwams  and  abcrut  150  waa'riors' — ^on  the  soulth 
bank  of  the  river.  Herding  the  beeves  in  a  mesquite  flat 
and  leaving  them  to  Fortune's  chance,  the  Texans  marched 
up  in  closer  proximity  to  the  enemy,  halted  at  midnight  and 
planned  an  attack  to  take  place  at  dawn.  A  fierce  "wet 
norther"  was  blowing.  The  unsuspecting  Coimanches  silum- 
beired  comifortably  under  bhiffaloi  robes  in  their  skiiurcov- 
ered  teepees,  while  tlie  Texans  had  only  the  blue  sidereal 
doftne  for  a  covering  and  shivea^ed  in  tine  chdll  light  o.f  the 
stars.  As  tlie  first  rays  of  light  glimmeired  across  the  wild 
and  wind-swept  plains,  the  troops  weaie  ordered  tio'  mount, 
deploy  and  move  rapidly  to  the     onslaught  —  Lieut.  Clark 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  333 

L.  Oweois  withi  i'ifteieiai  picked  men  as  cavalry  were  deployed 
to  cut  off  -any  ne'treat  of  the  em^emy;  Oaipt.  Rabb  with  his 
command  to  the  riight,  sanxl  Capt.  l>awsoai  with  his  contin- 
gent upon  the  left;  the  Lipans  being  with  the  center  advanc- 
eing  cohmm.  What  hapj)cned  when  the  villaigc  was  reached 
is  best  told  by  Col.  Moore  himsielf : 

"At  the  break  of  d^ay,  ooi  Saturday,  the  24th  of  October, 
I  ordered  tlie  troops  to  mount  and  march.  I  soon  ascen- 
ded the  hill,  and  ordered  Lieut.  Clark  L.  Ow^en'  to  take  coaoa- 
mand  of  fifteen  men  taken  from  the  companies,  to  act  as 
eavaJry,  to  cut  off  any  retreat  of  the  eJiemy.  I  ordered  Capt. 
Thomas  J.  Rabb,  'with  his  command,  up  the  right,  Lieuit. 
Owen  in  the  center,  and  Capt.  Nicholas  JNI.  Dawson,  with 
his  command,  upon^  the  left.  Just  befoi-e  reaching  the  vil- 
lage I  had  to  •descend  the  hill,  which  brought  us  •within  two 
himdxed  paces  oif  the  enemy.  I  tiien  ordered  Lieut,  Owen 
with  his  command  to  the  right  of  Capt.  Rabb's  comnuand. 
I  then  ordered  a  charge  of  the  whole  upon  the  \'illage, 
which  was  obeyed  instanter.  The  enemy  fled  foo*  the  river, 
which  was  in  the  shape  of  a  half  moon,  encirclin.g  tJie  vil- 
lage. Immediaitely  upon  charging  the  village,  a  general,  ef- 
feotive  fire  was  opened  upon  the  enemy,  who  soon  com- 
menced faHling  upon  the  right  and  left.  After  charging 
pretty  nearly  through  their  encampment,  the  men  dismoaiMt- 
ed  from  their  horses,  and  continued  the  fire  upon  tihe 
enemy,  as  tliey  were  retreating  to  the  river.  Many  weire 
slain  before  tJiey  reached  the  river,  in  wliich  they  took  ref- 
uge— ^many  of  whom  were  killed  oi*  droAvned.  Some,  how- 
ever, succeeded  in  croissing  the  stream  and  makinig  off  tbro' 
the  prairie  on  the  opposite  side.  At  this  time,  Leut.  Owen 
crossed  o^ier  and  commenced  cutting  off  their  retreat.  In 
this  the  gallant  lieutenant.  s,uceeeded  admirably.  During 
all  this  time,  the  fire  was  kept  up  most  effectively  at  the 
river  for  the  space  of  tbirty  minutes. 

"When  the  enemy  had  reached  the  opposite  bank, 
then  it  was  that  my  troops  displayed  their  skill  in  rifle 
shooting.    Every   man   was    deliberate  and  at  the  crack  oif 


334  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

his  piece  it  wias  apparent  that  good  aim  had  been  taken. 
The  river  and  its  banks  now  presented  every  evidence  of  a 
total  defeat  of  our  savage  foes.  The  bodies  of  men,  women 
and  childi-en  were  to  be  s-een  on  every  hand,  wounded,  dy- 
ing, anid  dead.  Having  found  that  the  work  of  death  and 
destruction  had  been  fully  consummated  here,  I  accordingly 
ordered  my  troops  to,  cross  the  river,  and  a  portion  to  aot 
in  concert  with  Lent.  Owen.  With  the  residue,  I  O'rdiered  a 
general  charge  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians  who  were  at- 
temptiaig  to  effect  their  escape.  My  men  were  soon  seen 
flying  in  every  direction  tiirough  the  prairie,  and  their 
valor  told  that  the  enemy  was  entirely  defeated.  The 
puirsuit  ceased  at  the  distance  of  four  miles  froini  the  point 
of  attack,  and  finding  that  the  enemy  was  entirely  over- 
thrown, I  ordered  my  men  to  the  encampment. 

"The  number  of  prisoners  taken  and  brought  into  camp 
in  small  parties  amounted  to  thirty  four,  seven  of  whom 
escaped  during  a  stampede  of  our  horses  on  a  very 
dark  uSght,   besitles  three  1  left  behind. 

"I  instituted  an  examination  into  the  number  silain,  and 
from  the  best  iruformation,  there  were  48  killed  upon  the 
groiund  and  ^0  killed  and  drowned  in  the  river.  This  num- 
ber is  comsideired  by  the  troops  as  being  too  smaJl  an  esti- 
mate of  the  number  actual  1\-  killed  and  destroyed  in  the  en- 
gagement. I  had  two  men  slightly  wounded,  Mr.  Dough- 
erty of  Colol-ado  county,  and  Mr.  M.  F.  Jiones  of  Fayette 
— two  horses  were  also  wounded  in   the  engagement. 

"At  10  o'clock  my  troops  had  all  returned.  I  then  or- 
dered the  village  to  be  destj'oyed  by  fire,  and  in  fifteen 
minutes  tli,e  Avhole  encampment,  with  all  property  of  every 
description,  including  more  than  three  hundred  saddles,  and 
a  large  number  of  skins  of  various  kinds  was  in  flames. 

"I  then  ordered  the  troops  to.  march,  assigning  a  suf- 
ficient ptiiai:('  to  herd  a.rd  drive  tlie  imm-n,%  caballat^o  of 
horses  which  had  been  captiwed  from  the  enemy,  in  number 
about  five  hundred,  and  tihen  turned  my  course  for  this 
place,  marching  by  the  position  where  I  had  Mt  my  beef 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  335 

cattle.  After  herdinig;  my  cattle,  I  marched  «ibout  six  miles 
and  eaaeamped  for  the  niglit.  The  weather  on  my  returtn 
was  unfavorable — had  to  lie  in  camp  two  days  on  account  of 
the  north  winds  and  rain.  The  distance  from  the  city  of 
Austin  to  the  :battle  ground,  I  estimate  at  full  three  hun- 
dred miles,  and  from  the  best  infoi'mation  I  havie  been 
abie  to  obtain  froan  the  Lipan  Chief,  aaid  those  of  the  Ser- 
atic  tribe  of  Indians  with  whom  Wie  miet,  I  would  say  that 
we  penetrated  more  than  half  way  to  the  city  of  Santa  F.e. 
Upon  my  return,  near  the  old  Mission  of  San  Saba,  I  fell 
in  with  a  small  piarty  of  Indians  of  the  Seratic  tribe,  fifteen 
in  number.  After  a  consultation  held  between  them  and  Cas- 
tro, the  Lipan  chief,  I  coancMded*  to  bring  in  two  of  their 
captains,  as  they  appeared  frie^nidly  and  desirous  to  treat 
with  us,  arad  to  aid  us  in  our  wars  Avith  the  Comanch,es,  with 
whiom  tbiey  are  also  hostile.  They  represent  their  tribe  as 
residinig  in  the  vicinity  of  thie  Rio  Grande,  betlweexi  Santa 
Fe  and  Chihuabua,  and  that  they  have  about  eight  hundred 
warriors. 

"Two  sprightly  Mexican  youths,  bL^tween  the  ages  of 
fouji'teen  and  saxt.e'en,  were  recaptured  during  tbe  battle, 
whoau  the  Comancbes  had  made  ca.ptiv.es  in  the  vicinity  of 
Camiargo,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  al>out  tha-iee  months  since. 

"Great  credit  is  due  Castro  and  his  mien,  seventeen  in 
number,  who  acted  as  spies  during  the  cainpaiign.  Thi'v 
proved  faithful  acoid  aeti\'iP  tlu-oiughoT.it,  and  the  GoviM-nment 
should  be  parti<iular  in  retaiiniug  their  friendship,  fotr  as 
spies,  they  are  unsurpassed. 

"In  conclusion,  let  me  remark  that  tooi  mucli  credit  can- 
not be  award^ed  to  th.e  officers  of  my  command  for  the.ir  gail- 
lant  and  officer-like  conduct  and  bearing  during  the  entire 
campaign,  and  pai-ticularly  during  the  engagement.  And  it 
affoa-dis  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  inform  yoiiir  Department 
of  the  manner  in  which  boah  officers  and  privates  dis- 
charged-  their  duties,  al'ways  ready  and  ever  willing  to  obey 
any    order    howeven'   ardujoois  tht^  performance  miglit  be. 


336  BORDEK  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

"My  men  havK3  returned  in  good  health  and  fine  Bpirits, 
though  much  fatigiued. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 
Jahn  If.  iVIoore, 
C  1840. 
— Austin  City  Gazette,  Nov.  llol.  Commanding  Volunteers." 


October  21,  Col.  A.  Somerville  wrote  to  Oapt.  A.  Nci'll 
regarding  the  proposed  graind  expedition  against  the  Indiaiis 
in  Noveanber.  He  said  that  he  had  been  infotrmed  that  Neill 
intended  to  raise  a,  company,  and  requests  him  to  muster 
and  organize  it  •and  i"ej>ort  \vith  tli>e  command  by  November 
10,  at  Fort  Dunnington,  on  Brushy  Creek,  the  rendezvous 
designated   by   Maj.   Gen.   Felix  Huston. 

Thomas  G.  Stubblefield,  Texias  governmenit  agent  for  the 
Alabamais  and  Cooshattie^,  says  in  a  letter*  dated  Novem- 
bea-  2,  add)i'es-sed  to  Secretary  of  State,  Abner  S.  Lipiscomb, 
that  those  Indians  "wei-e  on  the  resen'iation  set  apart  for 
them  and  were  Avail  pleai>ed;  but,  that  tlw  siurvey  of  the 
lands,  while  in  progress,  wa.s  not  completed. 

Tihe  Anstin  City  Gazette  of  November  11,  publishes  a 
nicely  %vorded  note,  sigmed  by  a  nnmber  of  leading  citizens 
uijv'i'ting  Col.  John  II.  Moore  and  men  (who  had  returned 
from  an  Indian  expedition  and  were  camped  near  town) 
to  attend  a  barbecue  wiliich  would  be  given  in  their  honor 
Monday,  No\emlw?r  16;  and,  also,  Col.  iMoore's  repJy  ex- 
tending thanks  to  the  committee  acd  citizens  for  the  invi- 
tation, bnt  saying  that  uuoist  of  his  men  had  heen  SLwa^y 
from  their  families  far  a  long  time  and  were  anxious  to  get 
home  and  he  and  his  ccaumamd  were,  tlierefore,  unable  to  ac- 
cept the  invitation. 

Notihing  fui-'tilur  seemis  to  have  been  done  toward  launch- 
ing into  the  wilds  the  "grand  expedition"  that  had  been  so 
mnch  disciussed. 

*Army  Archives. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  387 

Tbe  wo-rk  doiie  by  Moore  and  his  followers  was  «f  soct 

a  'tiLoroug'li  nature  and  so  fao-  re^-ching  in  its  ■effects,  that  it 
was  doubtless  d&emed  una&eessary  to  ^  to  tbe  expense 
and  tixyii/ble  of  other  expeditions  for  a\\-^i!le. 

On  Gilleland  Creese,  an  Travis  eount:^-,  July  4,  a  pa-rtfr 
o+*  Indians  killed  aaid  scalped  a-  (negro  girl,  whx)  belonged 
to  Mr.  Clipt-otn.  ,She  ,was  driving  comis  lio-me  amd  hoilowed 
a/t  tihean.  Heir  cries  ajttraicted  the  attentiooi  af  the  ImdranS, 
who  crept  itcnrard  her  thrcoigh  the  tall  grass  mipepceived  amfl 
shot  her  without  wa/rning. 

Usually  Indiaais  did  fnK>t  kill  negro  slaves,  but  held  thetti 
for  lar^e  ransoms,  which  they  seldom,  or  neveof,  failed  <^ 
gM.  Li  this  imstaiKje,  and  in  soiiie  othere,  the  love  of  blo»d 
was  stronger  with  them  than  the  love  of  gain.  When  cir- 
cum3t'anc<-s  ^vepy  saich  as  to  preclude  the  savages  from  hold- 
ing m grots  foir  ransom,  tbe  darkies  were  kilkd,  and  gener- 
ally scalped,  like  other  victims. 


INDIAN  TEOUBLES  ALONG  EED  RIVER. 

Shifting  the  iseeaie  of  cotU'fliet — the  Woody  warfare  D.e~ 
tween  the  red  meaii  and  whites  was  beiaig  waged  all  alomg 
the  frontiers — we  "will  give  some  incidcjits  tJiat  tra3ispiii6& 
in  th:^  extremt'  aoi-ther-n  part  of  the  Republic.  Ti^e  folloAT- 
ing  ais-  related  by  that  early  pioaiee-r  aiwl  historiaoi  cf  that 
sectio-n,  the  lat^e  Judge  J.  P.  Simpson: 

"In.  the  winter  and  spring  of  1839  ^nti'  '40  tbe  eitizeaus 
at  Fort  In.glish,  Warren  and  Pi'eston  moved  b.ome  to  the 
FoTt  with  the  determination  to  defend  themseives  and  prop- 
ei-ty  against  the  fcraj-s  of  the  Indians,  the  effort  of  the  gOT 
erniment  having  proved  abortive  to  give  protection  to  thesb 
settieJ-s,  on  account  of  it>  I'ick  of  men  and  resources  ad- 
equate for  the  purpose.  The  pi^sident  wai*  oppose<i  to  a  war 
polic>,  aaid  favorinig  paicific  and  treaty  measures,  instruct-' 
ed  the  officers  and  requested  the  citizens  to  use  tlu-ir  influ- 
ence and  energy  in  collecting  detaehed  and  broken  tribes  oC 
Indian-s  then  scattered  over  the  Itepiiblic,  in  order  that  th^ 


338  BOHBER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

might  be  treated  Avitli,  aud  res^rvati-oas  of  lajid  be  gj-a'iited 
them  t'oT  s^ettlenient.  Dr.  D.  Kowlett,  congresynian  fi«om 
this  district,  li^d  colleeted  a  suiall  part  of  a  tribe  of  Ooo- 
shattees  at  Ms  place  on  Ked  River,  and  had  the  oviersight 
of  them  until  they  could  be  provided  for  by  the  govern- 
in  en  r. 

''Daniel  Dugan,  who  lived  some  midas  soutli/west  of  War- 
ren, wa.s  .often  annoyed'  by  tlie  Indians.  His  son,  Daniel,  was 
kilkd  hy  them  wliile  at,  woi-k  a  short  distancie  fwiui  the 
house.  His  howne  wa«  attacked  at  night,  on«  man  killed 
and  another  wounded.  The  circumstances  and  incidentsi  of 
the  killing  1  will  moi^e  mimitely  detail.  Three  j'otung  men — 
Green,  liou\t]'  and  Grordon — were  occupying  one  room  of  the 
house,  thi^  old  man  Dugan  and  fiimily  the  other  iNDom,  and  G. 
C.  Dugan  (who  died  re-cently  in  California)  and  his  brotlner. 
William,  occupied  the  stable  loft  to  guard  their  'horstes. 
The  yoiung  men  bad  retired  to  bed  (the  family  had  no.t  re- 
tired) when  tihc  Indianis  suddenly  forced  open  the  dtoor  of 
the  room  in  whiich  the  >'Oiung  men  were  sleeping,  andi  dis- 
charged a  numb*^r  of  ^hots  into  the  bed,  killing  Gi^en, 
woundin.g  Hoover,  and  tihicn  rujshed  into  tiie  house.  Gor- 
don seized  tlu>  doornshutttr  and  with  force  eloisied  the  dtoor, 
thix)>nng  the  Indians  to  the  ontskie,  where  the  dogis^  at- 
tacked! them,  and  they  comaueneed  islwoting  the  dogs,  and 
tbi3  old  man  Dugan  sbootin^-  at  them  as  fa&t  as  he  could, 
and  they  at  him  in  tlie  house  Avith  his  faanily.  Diiring  this 
dangerous,  exciting,  conflict,  Georg-e  and  William  wei"«e  not 
idle  spectators  of  tJie  sun-ounding's.  The  moon  wafi  shining 
very  brightly  and  they  had  discovered  an  Indian  who  had 
set  his  gun  at  the  door,  and  dui-ing  the  fight  at  th«  bouse 
had  been  working  a(t  the  lo'ek  trying  to  get  the  hoit&es  out. 
He  was  in  such  a  po^sition,  however,  t;ha.t  thos«  in  th^e  loft 
could  not  shoot  him.  After  the  figjht  was  over  a/t  tbe  hous^ 
two  Indians  ca.m*  up  to  tibe  stable  with  lariats  on  their 
Bie<k«,  M'hen  tJie  Dugans  let  them  have  tli«  contents  of  their 
guns.  Onie  of  the  Indians  fell  dead  and  the  other  ran  a 
tiboi't  distan«ee  and  fell,  utt-oi-ing  sava^g^  gTX)an»  in  hiis  dy- 
iluff  agonies.     The  Indian  a.t  the   st.able    door   theo    rasD'  ovff, 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  339 

leaving  his  ^uu.  The  Indians  tiien  began  to  'blow  on  their 
whistks  and  hoot  like  owls,  as  a  vsignal  tO'  rally  and  get  ta- 
gietftier. 

"Next  morning  the  dead  Indian  was  found  to  ha\e  on 
a  calico  hunting  shirt  whicdi  Dr.  KoAvlett  had  given  hian, 
and  the  gxui  at  the  door  proved  t^  belong  to  the  Coo^ihattee 
chie^*  who'  lived  at  Dr.  Rowlett's.  Catherine,  the  youngest 
daughter  of  Dani'cl  Du^aoi,  had  solemnly  vowed  whexi  her 
brother,  Daniel,  wais  killed,  scalped,  and  toinahaM'ked,  that 
she  would  cut  off  the  head  of  the  first  Indian  she  got  a 
chance  at.  She  accordingly  shouldei^c^  an  ax  and  march- 
ing to  the  stable,  as  bold  as  an  experienced  and 
adroit  surgeon  going  to  dissect  a  subject,  with  a 
few  direct  blows  severed  the  head  from  the  botl|>'  and' 
carried  it  to  the  house  as  a  trobhy  of  revenge  for  the  mur- 
der of  her  brother.  The  headless  body  wa^  left  as  food  for 
beasts  of  prey.  I  saw  the  skull  about  the  lioust:'  years 
aftejr. 

The  old  lady  Dugan  was  very  smart,  ixidfustrious  eco- 
nomical, domestically  iiK-Jin^d  Avoman,  much  more  so  than 
women  of  today.  She  spam  he-  thread,  Avove  her  cloth  and 
wade  her  own  wearing  apparel,  She  found  use  foi-  the  In- 
dian stxiU  as  one  of  th-e  fixtures  to  her  loom  as  a  quill 
gourd  and  had  it  attached  accordantly.  Catherine  married 
a  Methodist  pi'each'er,  B,  W.  Taylor,  and  moved  to  Cali 
fornia." 


FATE  or  A  PIONEER  FAMILY  —  OTHER  TRAGEDIES. 

The  following  incidents  occurred  during  1840,  but  the 
exact  dates  have  not  been  pi*eserved: 

Dr.  Hunter  and  family — conBisting  of  his  'vx^ife,  neaiiy 
grown  son,  three  daughters  (aged  respectively,  about  t-rti, 
twelve  land  eig'hteen  years),  and  negi-o  woman- — -loc^ited  in 
th«  Red  River  valley  at  a  point  about  eight  miles  below  Old 
WaiTen  and  servexal  miles  frcwn  any  neighbor.  Subsequently 
his  eldeist  daug^t^r  maiviied.  William  Lankfoird  of  Warren  and 
settled  at  an<rthei'  pla<ee.    Sometime  thereafter     Dr.     Huntev 


340  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

3tod  his  sxm  lefit  hofme.  During  their  absence  his  ten  and 
ttrdve  year  old  dauigftiteirs  were  attactoed  ait  a  spring,  about 
a*  hundred  yairds  from  the  bouse,  and  on©  of  them  killed  aiad 
scalped,  and  the  other  taken  prisoner  by  eleven  Indians.  The 
lawiians  crept  to  the  house  and  inished  intoi  it  and  killed 
Mi«.  Hunter  land  the  negro  woman,  and  scalped  the  farmer, 
Imt  not  the  latter.  They  then  looted  the  premises,  and  were 
Jjiaist  disappearing  froon  view,  when  yoong  Iluntecr  returned. 
He  caUed  to  his  mother,  but  received  no  reply,  and'  runinin^ 
ihawuigh  the  open  ck>orway,  &tumbled  o^'er  hier  lifeless  and 
zaangled  body.  The  little  girl  w'as  compelled  by  the  Indiainis 
ra  dress  (her  own  mother's  scalp.  Six  months,  or  a  year, 
later  she  'was  istold  to  friendly  Choctaws  Hind,  her  brother 
Itijaraiing  of  the  fact,  went  to  the  Nation  and  ransomed  het\ 

Mclniyre  and  his  family  located  near  Shawneetown'  in 
^hat  is  nio:w  Grayson  co^inity ;  but  being  annoyed  by  the  la- 
dKiais,  moved  to  w^at  is  known  as  Mclntyre'si  crossing  on 
tie  Choctaw,  in  the  same  county,  bloody,  who  I'esided  in 
ike  saone  region,  started  to  "Warren  on  buisiness  aoaid  at  dus^, 
when  opposite  Mclntyre's  housie,  wa;s  shot  and  kitUed  by 
ladians,  who  sicalped  Mm,  built  a  bon-fire  and  laid  his  body 
cm  it,  and  danced  and  yelled  around  the  pyre  all  night.  Mo- 
latyre  and  his  trwo  sons,  the  latter  aged  respectively  twelve 
ftud  fourteen  yeai-s,  plainly  heard  the  noise,  and  bai-rioaded 
the  doors  of  their  cabin,  expecting  to  be  attacked.  Some 
montlis  datei'  his  son*;  were  killed  and  scalped  while  huntin.g. 

T-v^^  bi^others,  named  Sew  ell,  living  at  Old  Warren, 
h-<^rd  a  noise  in  their  hoi*se  lot  at  night  and  one  of 
them  went  out  to  investigate.  When  neSir  the  lot,  a  voice 
called  to  him,  sa;yin)g:  "Lay  the  gap  loAv^er."  Believing  that 
white  thieves  were  trying  to  steal  the  sitock,  he  exclaimed: 
'I've  caught  you!" 

A  moment  later  he  was  struck  in  the  breaist  by  an  air- 
raw.  He  ran  to  the  house,  exclaiming  as  he  passed  his  broth- 
er: "I  am  shot,"  and,  stag^gering  on  a  few  feet  further,  Ml 
dead.  The  Indian  who,  killed  him  pursued  him  closely;  but 
being  confromted  by  the  other  Sewiell,  halted  and  was  in  the 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  341 

act  of  discharging  an  amofw  at  his  n^ew  antagonist  when  h« 
was  fired  on  and  killed  by  the  surviving  brother. 

Moody,  the  Mclntyr©  boys,  and  young  Se^'eli  were 
believed'  itx>  have  been  killed  by  Sliawneies,  but  the  whdAe 
people  weite  not  able  to  confinm  the  saispdeion  by  proof.  For 
their  part,  the  Shawnees  disclainied  having  cojnmitted  the 
HWinders,    and    chatrigied   them  to  "wild  Indians." 


SAVING  OSBORN'S  SCALP. 

Olaiborne  and  Lee  Osborn,  James  Kajniliton  and  several 
otier  young  men  separated  while  buffalo  huntings — Olaiborne 
Osborn  andi  James  Ilaanfllton  gcing  in  one  direction  and  their 
companions  in  another.  Inddana  attacked  and  pursued'  Os»- 
barn  andl  Hamilton,  badly  wounding  the  horse  of  Osborn. 
The  jxmng  men  gad-Loped  from  the  spo,t  toward  where  their 
comrades  eo-uld  he  found;  but  had.'  gone  only  a  short  dis- 
tance when  Osborn 's  horse  felil  throwing  him  heavily  to  th« 
gr<«ind.  Hamilton  kept  on,  reached'  the  other  humitefre,  and 
dashed  back  to  the  rescue  with  them.  They  arri^'eds  bare^ 
in  tame  to  save  Osborn 's  life.  He  was  lying  where  he  fell. 
Indiaais  were  all  aax)und  him,  beating  and  stabbing  him, 
and)  had  partly  remoA'ed  his  scalp.  A  fusilade  from  the 
party  sesnt  the  Indians  seurrj'in^  ito  the  cedair  bra«kes.  Os- 
born's  scalp  w^as  carefully  replaced  and,  in  time,  healed. 
He  settled  near  Webberville,  Travis  county,  where  he  lived 
many  years  and  reared  a  large  and  respectable  familj'. 

Kenney  says:  "Fii-oim  a  fierce  raid  on  Bastrop  the  ti-ail 
of  retreat  led  through  Burleson  county  *  ®  *,  They  (the 
Indians)  were  pursued  by  Gen.  Burleson  wdth  a  party  of  citi- 
isens,  and  seven  Indians  killed.  Around  Autstin  *  *  *  the  pre- 
datory incursions  continued  without  cessation,  the  Wacocs 
and  Comamches  chiefly  dividing  the  responsibility." 

"At  Fort  InglisJi',  *  =*  *  two  boys  named  Cox  were  cap- 
tured. The  Indiansi  wea*e  chased,  but  made  good  their  es- 
cape, carrying  away  the  captives.  On  the  wa^',  they  killed 
a  one-armed  man  and  cut  off  his  remaining  arm,  which  at 
Mgbt  they  iroasted  and  ate,  making  signs  to  the  boys    that 


342  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

tUey  would  soon  eat  them  also.  But  they  did  mxt,  and  six: 
months  aftenvai^is  the  boys  were  P'Urchased  by  traders  a-mi 
s^nt  home."'* 


The  year  dosed  with  a  l^i--g>  portioji  of  Texas  conquer- 
ed rrom  the  savatge  foes  of  sietiiLinenit  lajnid  civilization,  and 
further  redermprtiion  of  itlie  wilderness  asf>iuired.  It  is  i^mark- 
abie  thajt  iso  mA.Kih  should  have  b-er  aeeomfplishf*<l  whein  the 
public  trea.suiy  wa.s  empty,  the  Republic  unja.bk  to  borro-vr 
m<>ney,  and  the  pajpei-  euweney  of  Texas  M-^as  cii^ultated  with 
diffieult\'  at  ondy  a  -small  fraction  of  its  nomiuial  value.  Tlhe 
only  ■exiplan^aftion  is  that  berth  government  and  people  co-op- 
erated loyally-  for  the  attainment  of  the  object  in  view,  and 
lookjed  to  th.e  future,  instead  of  the  present,  for  reward- — 
a  sane  prescience  an.d  valiant  optimism  that  hastened  in- 
cre>ase  of  popidation.  wealth  and  siecurity  a.s  nothing  else 
could  liave  done. 

(^a!.sting  up  the  account  today,  it  can  be  trutlifuiiy  said 
the  i>rice  was  none  to  great  for  tha/t  which  it  obtained  for 
thio.se  who  paid  it.  and  for  those  who  have  come  adtter  them. 

♦  Scarff  3  "Comprehensive  History  of  Texas." 


CHAPTER   XIV. 


Uj  I    HE  year  1841   has  been  treated  by  Texas 

H  n  M'stoi-kins  as  cwie  praeticaMy  free  fiom  In^ 
sS  Si  ^^"^  atrocities  and  serio-iis  deprf^dations— ^a 
/! — *  r ■'  •  J|  fact  due  to  their  not  hia\'i9ag  access  to  ar- 
cliives  amdi  other  souixjes  of  informaticn 
that  are  no^v  available.  While  the  list 
of  horrors  perpetriated  by  the  vanishing 
race — still  strom^  enough  to  strike,  and 
■v^•dtil  hatred  and  siinguimiry  impidses  inten- 
sified rather  thtaai  dlirainished  by  what  it 
had  siifferedi — was;  not  so  long  and  gruesome  as  those  of 
some  former  years,  it  was  still  of  an  extent  to  harrow  the 
sympathi^  and  mak-e  the  blood  vwa  coild,  and  requires  the 
jiear  to  be  mtarked  in  red  in  the  annuls  of  the  comimion- 
wealth. 

The  stniggle  for  masteiy  was  yet  on.  and  was  prose- 
cuted b.y  the  Anglo-Americans  \v\hh  a  courage  and  a  reso- 
lution that  came  down  to  t/hem  from  Senlac,  Ag.incourfc 
antd  Crecy,  and  that  has  ever  caused  them  to  i-^ject  froan 
the  hands  of  Fortune  anything  save  victory  and  dominion, 
when  waging  contests  for  supremacy.  The  reader  \\i\[ 
therefore  find  that  the  m<;idenits  of  border  warfare  in 
Texas  in  1841,  ai-e  not  inferior  in  intere»,t  to  those  thait  pre- 
ceded them. 


344  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

INTERNAL  AFFAIRS— INDIAN  HOSTILITIES. 

The  Fifth  Congress  passed  a  joint  resolution,  apprcwed 
Jan.  6,  1841,  providinjg  "That  Ihe  sum  of  $10,000.00,  which 
"WAS  appropriated  for  th«  purpose  of  volunteer  expeditions 
against  tie  hostile  Indian^i  on  the  upper  Brazos  river  be, 
and  the  same  is  hereby,  transferred  for  the  purpose  oi  rais- 
iBg  «and  subsistin,g  any  force  that  the  President,  may  author- 
i:4e  to  be  raificd'  for  said  expedition." 

Au'  act  off  Congress,  approved  January  18,  aboliished  the 
office  of  Secretary  otf  the  Navy  and  devolved  the  duties  of 
thiat  office  on  the  Secrettary  of  War,  whoi  was  afterwards 
«ometinies  addi'essed  by  his  former  title  but  more  often  and 
0<»J^e!Ctly  SB  Secretary  of  War  and  Marine.  The  act  abol- 
labed,  or  oonsoilidated,  variotus  other  Oififieesi;  required  th<e 
Prefiident  ta  reduce  the  numiber  of  officers  holdinig  commijs- 
(jions  iin  the  reg<ular  aitmy,  and  provided  that  all  further  re- 
cjmiting  for  the  army  sboajld  be  doaienitinued. 

The  Travis  Guards,  a  uniforated!  company,  "were  imcor-' 
porated  by  an  act  approved  January  23. 

January  23,  Cap-t,  John  T.  Price,  who  hadi  jnist  complc'tr 
^d  a  scout  toi  the  west  with  his  spy  coan(pany,  sent  a  d-os- 
patch®  to  the  Secrestaj'y  of  War,  ccntainin^  such  informa- 
tion as  he  couJd  gather  conjcerndng  the  intenltion  of  Mexico 
*o  invade  Texas — an  event  that  was  then  deemed  cer- 
tain to  occur  during  the  spring,  or  summer,  but  which  was 
prevented  by  a  series  of  fortuitcois  circumistancejs,  that  be- 
triended  Tiesas,  as  it  had  been  several  times  befion^e.  He  said 
fbat  it  waisi  reported  that  an  army  of  10,000  men  was  being 
■Bobilized'  and  that  it  would  be  reinforced  by  eacb  of  tb« 
Mexican  staftes  furnishing  2,000  m-efli. 

The  Gialveston  Artillery  Coanpany,  a  uniformed  company, 
was  incorporajted  by  an  act  of  Congress,  approved  Jan.  30. 

An  acti,  approved  Feb.  1,  appropriated  $8,000.00  for 
the  support  of  troqp®  then  on  the  frontier  under  the  com- 
miand  of  Col.  Wm.  G.  Cooke. 

♦  Army  Archives. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  345 

An  act  approved)  Februa^ry  4,  1841,  authofrii^ed  the  set- 
tlers on  thie  froJBti-er  borders  of  each  of  th-e  followkug'  cooin- 
ties  to  organrize  a  company  of  not  l-ess  than  tweaity  nor  moro 
than  fiftj'Hsdx  minote  men,  rank  and  file:  Fannin,  Lramar, 
Red  River,  Bawde,  Paschal,  Panola,  Niacogdoehes,  Houston, 
Robertson,  ]\IiLaan,  Travis,  Bexar,  Gonizales,  Goliad,  Victoria, 
Refuigio,  San  Patrdcio,  Moaitgom-ery  aaod  Bastrop.  The  com- 
paaides  we-re  to  dect  their  own  oiiicirs  and  hold  theinfielvcs 
in  readiness  to  afford  a  ready  and  acrtiive  protect ioai  to  th-e 
frontier  settlements.  The  act  p«>vided:  "The  members  of 
said  eomiipanies  sluall  at  all  tcmes  be  prepared  'with  a  goad 
srabstaoiitdal  horse,  bridle  amd)  saddle,  with  other  neecssaiy  ae- 
eoujtirementB,  together  with  a  gotcd  gain  and'  •one  Immdred 
rouindis  of  aTnmuncition ;  and  in  odditicjoi  to  this,  Avli-en  called 
into  service,  such  noimber  of  rations  as  the"  captain,  may  di- 
rect. *  *  ^  The  captains  *  *  *  may,  when  theij-  d-ecm  it  pru- 
dent, dotail  from  theia"  companies  a,  naunber  csf  spies,  not 
more  th^m  five,  tO'  act  upooi  the  frontdiza-s  of  their  several 
eoun/ties." 

Membeirs  of  the  coanpanies  were  exeonpfted  from  the  pay- 
ment of  state,  county  and  corporatiKJai  poll  tajc  amd  the  tax 
assesEcd  by  law  upofa  one  saddle  honse,  and  fcrcnn  the  per- 
formance of  ainy  kind  of  nwlitary  dutiy  and  workii:;g  on  the 
public  roads. 

The  pay  pro^-ided  for  eaoh  manoite  raaoi  v.ia.s  tine  dollar 
per  day  for  scirvice  actiiaJly  rendeired;  "provided,"  says 
the  aKJt,  "that  the  morabei-s  of  the  coonpanies  islnall  nolt  re- 
©eive  pay  on  amy  one  expedition  for  a  longer  period  than 
flfteem  days;  and,  on  the  several  expeditdons  withiai  caie  year 
after  their  oa-gandzation,  shall  not  receive  pay  for  a  longer 
period  than  four  months'  in  the  aggreg-ate,  excepting  the  spies, 
for  e^ery  y^r  thejreaftter  *  *  *  ." 

Pcissibly  about  tihis  time  (the  date  is  umoertain)  a  niun- 
ber  of  settleais,  who  had  come  to  Warren,  Fannin  ooumty,  to 
attend  district  court,  which  was  to  convene  the  followaaig 
day,  wejre  gatiiered  Sunday  night  around  a  stove  in  a  tavern 
kept  by  Capt.  Sowell  and  J.  S.  Scott,  and  'were  inkltustrioufily 


346  BOKDEK  WAKS  OF  TEXAS. 

<*ii.ga/gved  iu  stowiixg'  toddies  and  taJkinjg,  They  were  sudden- 
ly sitartled  by-  a  connniiotioai  in  the  stable  and  horse  lot  of  the 
iHAein,  jind  iMislu'<i  out  iiiito  the  diarkn^ss  and  toiward  the 
^pot — ^luost  ol'  them  negl-eetiaig  to  tiike  tlieiv  t'ir^amiis  with 
th-etn.  As-  they  yiirmised  they  Avouild,  tliiey  found  tha-t  In- 
dianis  were  atteanpitinjg  to  steal  the  stock.  Ca.pt.  Sowell, 
who  Wiais  in  ii-omt,  •imsad  his  pistol  at  the  inaraudei\«i,  without 
effect,  and  was  himself  .shot  and'  instantly  killed,  oaie  arrow 
penetiratin^g  his  sitomiavh  and  another  ont-eiiaig  his  back  asnd 
eoanimg  out  in  fiont.  Scott  killfd'  an  Indian,  laod  the 
b^ahinee  of  the  redskins  took  to  th^ir  heels.  The  disitrict  eofui*t 
OBgiaiiized,  but  inDm(ediiat«ly  adjouiui-td  and  the  jud^je,  law- 
yerts  land  liti,gants  Mta,vte<l  for  hotme.  upon  a  sactivt  infonning 
them  he  had  discoA^eivd  the  trail  o^'  a  large  band  of  Intdfians 
going  in  the  diiretction  of  Fori  Inglish.  Capt.  Bird,  —  Siimp- 
son  and  s(!veral  otheJ's  Avait-ed  un-til  night  to  set  forth,  and 
haci  gone  but  a  shoait  distance  v  h.en  they  st0'pi>e-d  for  Catpt. 
Bud  to  recover  his  hat,  Avhich  had  fallen  off.  Wliik  he  Avas 
looking  for  it,  a  number  otf  Indians  i-an  towiard  th'e  ]>arty, 
y.'lliiig  aiul  shooting  arrows.  Simpson  fii'ed  l-is  shot  gun  at 
tluMii  }ind  cried  in  a  stentorian  Aoice,  as  if  addressing  la  eo.ra- 
pany  of  rangers:  "Charge!"  The  effect  oni  fhe  Indians  was 
magical:  th-ey  tore  into  wcod's  as  if  J'ack  Hays.  Jiimself,  was 
after  them,  and  the  fravelers  wended  their  way  toward 
where  tluy  were  going,  possiblv  withoiut  wasting  time  on  the 
liat  or  coimpLLmenting  Simpson  on  his  ready,  rcsourcefu'l  wit, 
danuary  9,  Judge  James  Sn\ith  and  son,  of  Austin,  th« 
latter  mounted  behind  the  Judge  on  a  horse,  were  pursued 
l»y  indiaji.s  near  the  capital,  Fnther  andi  son  were  well 
mounted  and  might  have  es^api  u.  but  for  the  f-aict  that,  rid- 
ing under  a  tr,e-e  they  were  knocked  off  by  one  of  the  limbs. 
Sci-amibliaig  to  tlieir  feet,  they  raja  iaito  a  thicket;  but  were 
pursued  by  the  Indians,  Avho  killed  and  scalped  Judge  Smith, 
and  took  th«  boy  iuito  eaipti\aty.  On  the  «ame  day  a  broth- 
er of  ?T)udge  Smith  was  chased  by  Indians,  but  escaped'  by 
the  fleetnesis  of  his  horse.  Teji.  d^y^  later  Judge  Smith's 
father-iiirlaw,  while  cutting  a  bee-tree  four  miles  south  of 
Austin,  Ava«  killed  and  iscalped  by  Indians. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  347 

lo  a  des^teh  dated  January  10,  Capt.  Ben.,>amia  T. 
Oill^am,  of  the:  l&t  InfantiTt  co-mmandant  at  J^an  Antonio, 
says  tbat  Caipt.  Jack  IIa.>'is  aaid  his  spy  com4>aciy  were  on  a 
scout  to%vaiNi  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  anrf.  a  report  was 
daily  expected  from  him,  and  that  Mexicasi  banditti,  who  in- 
fested the  Mexican  border  and  preyed  upon  rajiches  and  trad- 
evs,  had  committed  tlvefts  of  horses  and  cattle. 


OFFICIAL  REPORTS  OF    BORDER    DOINGS. 

Capt.  Geo.  M.  Dokon  of  Travis  (,-ounty  Minute  Men 
raa-de  the  foUowing  report*  to  Secretary  of  ^Yhv  BriincJi  T. 
Areher,  April  2: 

*'I  han'e  the  honor  to  reporl  tliat  the  cora.pany  of  mimute 
meji,  under  my  command,  was  org^anized  on  the  28th  ult.  On 
the  29tii  I  sent  Lt.  Newcomb  and  two  men  to  reconnoitre 
Brushy,  who  retMrmed  the  next  day  and  repoi-tedi  a  fresh 
ti^adl  of  Indians  leading'  towards  Austin.  A  portion  of  my 
men.  were  sooai  mounted,  and  accompand^xi  by  some  volun- 
teers, went  in  immediate  pursuit.  We  were  unsaiccessful 
in  findinig  these  Indiaais,  but  discoA-ered'  th'C  trail  of  the 
party  who  had  stolen  Capt.  Brown's  hoirse  a  feAv  nights  pre- 
vious. We  followed  the  trail  and-  succeeded  in  gaining  their 
vicinity,  a  few  miles  .aboAe  the  Perdenaies  river.  Hei'e  I  or- 
dered a  halt  for  the  piupoise  of  refl^eshing■  oiur  horses,  hav- 
ing ti-aveled  about  sixty  miles  in  twenty-four  hours  m-er  a 
«iounta,inous  country.  I  sent  cxiit  my  spies  (moamted  on  tJie 
best  hoi'ses)  %vho  returned,  bringing  into  caanip  tJu"ee  of  the 
enjsmy's  caballado  and  repoi-ting  fresh  signs  in  the  Colona- 
d-o  bottom.  At  madnigilit  we  were  in  our  saddles  a^nd  again 
upon  their  trail,  ■vvitih  tlie  hope  of  diiscoa^ering;  tbeir  camp  and 
attacking  thtem  at  dawn ;  but  the  darkness  >of  the  niigiht  pre- 
Temted.  H.a\^nig  lialted  again  for  a  siiort  tin>e,  we  continued 
OiUr  iKMUtc.  At  daybreak  we  discovered  their  horses,  and  a 
few  minutes  afterw^ards  found  ourselvets  upon  their  camp. 
The  action  comuienccd,  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  by  a  rap- 

♦  Army  Archives. 


348  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

id  discliarge  of  rafLe«.  We  imm-ediately  chitirg-ed,  aawi  diPOfve 
^eni  from  their  canip.  Twiice  they  ralii€4d,  under  oi»diere  of 
thedr  chief,  who  acted  with'  considerable  bnavej-y;  but  iM>th- 
zBig  could  istop  the  impetuosity  of  my  men,  and  the  Indians 
broke  in  every  direction,  leavirig-  us  in  poesessioai  of  tiieir 
oamp.  Tlie  nature  of  tiie  ground  wouli  not  admit  th-e  ope* 
ration  of  cavalry,  but  we  pursued  them  a  short  distonce  <m 
foot.  They  wire  suffered  to  escape,  however,  bearing  off 
their  wouruied,  the  •num^bei'  of  which  could  not  be  ascer- 
taiu'ed,  anti  leaving  tli-eir  chief  and  seven  others  dead  oo 
the  fieild.  We  returned'  froan  the  chase,  burned'  their  bows 
and  arrows,  and  destroyed  the  camp.  We  arrived  in  to'wii 
last  nigiht,  bringing  the  horse  tbat  had  been  stoden  fi-oan 
Oapt^in  Brown.  I  am  happy  to  say,  none  of  my  men  were 
wounded.  I,  myself,  received  in  the  commencement  of  th* 
eluase,  ooote  shot  in  my  breast  and  one  in  my  thigh.  My  hoit^ 
was  also  shot  through  the  neck.  After  beinig  Bh'Ot^  I  can- 
tinned  the  chase  on  foot  until  so  completely  exhausted'  I 
couTdl  neither  proceed  further  nor  command  my  men.  At  this 
instant,  Captain  Daniels  came  gallantly  to  my  aid,  aaid  called 
to  the  men,  'For  God's  sake,'  not  to  permit  the  charge  to 
end!  At  this  I  'was  satisfied  and  desisted)  from  further  ef- 
forts to  proceed.  The  men  under  Captain  Dandeilfi  continU'ed 
the  charge  until  the  Indians  were  dispersed.  The  Indiaaia 
numbered  aboufi  thirty -five." 


BEN  Mcculloch  routes  party  of  Indians. 

E<ai-ly  in  May,  Oapt.  Ben  jMcCuUloch  and  fifteen  com- 
panion® (Artl-uur  Swift,  James  II.  Ca-llahain,  Wiison  Randell, 
Ore-en  McCoy,  Eli  T.  Hanikins,  Archibald  Gipson,  W.  A.  Hall, 
Henry  E.  Mc Gull och.  Jam e®  Roberts,  Jeremiah  Roberts,  Thos. 
R.  Nichols,  Capt.  Wm.  Tomlinson,  William  P.  Kineaainon, 
Alisey  S.  Miller  and  William  Morrason)  marching  from  Gon- 
zales to  the  principal  mountain  tributaa^y  of  the  Gnadakipe, 
amd  thence  to  where  Johnson's  Fork  of  the  Maaio  eanpttesi 
into  the  latter  stream,  surprised  and  attacked  an  encamp- 
ment of  t!wen.ty-two  Indians  at  diawn.     Fi/ve    Indians     were 


BORDEK  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  349 

kailed,  aai<i  half  the  r<5maincler  woxmd.«d.  They  lost  every- 
thinig  except  the  larms  th<ey  had  in  Uveir  haaids.  Some  of 
■the  same  Indfiarss  had'  stokn  hca-ses  at  Gooizales.  McCuUodbi 
did  not  puirsiie  them  imnnediately  tihereafter,  as  there  would 
Iiave  been  little  probabaMtj-  of  ovei-taking  them.  He  wait«J 
ir'or  isever-al  da.>-s,  so  that  tlhey  wouldl  belie^'e  that  no  puamiit 
was  iait-ended  ■aaid  jreiax  thedr  vigilance.  The  result  attested 
the  wisdom  of  the  plan  adopted. 


SERVICES    OF    CHANDLER  S  RANGING  COMPANY. 

Capt.  Eli  Ch.amuler,  of  the  Robetrtsoii  Coxmty  Mimite 
Men,  -WTnting  to  Secret^r)-  of  Wiar  Branch  T.  Archer,  froca 
PraaatHn,  April  16,  1841,  saj-®: 

"I  beg  leave  to  report  that  the  coanpaaiy  of  minute  m€to 
under  mj^  command  w^s  organized  o*n  tihe  29th  of  Ma-rch.  *  * 
'^  ^  Upom  the  evening  of  the  9th  of  April  I  receivedi  infor- 
m:ation  that  an  Indaaai  enemy  had  kilLled  Mr.  Stephen  Rog>- 
ers,  Jr.,  and  had'  driven  away  eiglit  head  of  horses  from 
tbe  easterly  side  of  the  Nanr  asota  River.  I  immediateljr 
collected  twenty-five  of  my  meai  and,  by  a  forced  marcJl, 
'WaJs  enabled  to  come  up  with  two  of  themi  about  11  o'clock 
a.  m.  of  the  11th  inst.,  at  the  distance  of  two  miles,  moving 
the  stolen  hoi'ses.  *  «>  *  j  Lmmfediately  gave  cha^e  at  i\M 
speed  for  the  distance  of  seven  miles  and  ®  *  ®  recovertefii 
all  of  the  horses  ^'  *  *  aind  took  one  from  the  enemy.  I  am 
«orry  to  say  Ihart,  from'  the  jaded  conditicoi  oif  coir  lioi^es 
and  the  »tart  whicdi  they  had,  they  were  able  to  elude  u&. 
W^ile  'we  must  regret  their  escape,  it  affords  me  pLeasure 
to.  say  that,  from  the  perseverance  manifested  on  the  marcdi 
and  in  the  chase  by  e\'«ry  man  under  my  command,  I  be- 
lieve tliat  notlhin^  is  wanting  on  the  part  of  tliis  conimaind 
but  a  fair  opportunity,  to  sustain  that  character  for  chaT- 
alry  which  is  always  aai'taeipatcd  fiN>m  Texas  citizeais." 

Further  supplementing  his  report  to  the  Secretary  of 
War,  Captain  Chandler  says:  "*  *  *  On  the  16th  inst.  I 
received  information  from  spies  that  they  had  accidentally 
m«t  Mesvsrs.  Ilairdesty  and  Porter,  wiho  had  been  despatched 


.'{50  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

by  Col.  ThovS.  I.  Smith  and  B,  ,1.  Clxaiii'lx'i-'isy  (who  vr-eve  loni  a 
surveying  .expeditiom)  to  inform  me  that  they  had  diseoivered 
the  appeai'^nee  of  a  body  of  Indians  on  Pecan  Creek,  a 
tributaay  otf  tJie  trinity  River,  at  the  distance  of  about  one 
hiMidred  miles  fro-m  this  place.  I  foiftJiAvith  took  up  the  line 
•of  march  with  forty-five  m^en  of  my  command,  and  was 
joined  on  the  maa*ch  by  Thos.  I.  Smith  andi  Mfl",  Bi-anch 
(both  of  Milam  county),  R  J.  Chambers,  C.  M.  Winkler, 
John  Co.peland,  F.  Flint  and  M.  M.  Ferguson,  as  volunteers, 
miakin.g  the  aggu'cgate  force  fifty- three, 

"On  the  moining  of  the  20th,  by  traveling  ail  of  tha 
pa-eeeding  niglrt,  I  was  a.ble  to  gain  a  position  in  the  neigfh- 
boQ'hiOOd  of  itJie  '"  *  *  Indians,  and  belie'ving  that  we  'liad  not 
^een  dlsco^'ered,  I  coneealed  my  men  and  des-patched  i^eeon- 
noiterin'g  parties,  which  resulted,  in  Lieut.  Loive  i^epori'ting 
his  having  found,  down  the  C*reek  a  few  miiles,  a  deserted 
village,  which  liad  been  visit<>d  within  a  few  days  by  the  en- 
emy. But  the  lateness  of  the  hour  induced  me  to  remain  un- 
til the  dawn  of  tlie  next  moraiujg,  at  which  time  we  tofok  up 
the  line  of  maii^ch  far  the  deserted  village.  Having  pro- 
©eeded  about  five  milos,  we  discovered  at  the  distance  of 
three  hundred  yards,  eiglit  or  ten  of  the  enemy,  *  *  =*  im- 
mediately gave  chase,  and  puirsued  them  about  three  miles 
in  a  coiatran-  direction,  a-s  we  afterwards  learned,  from  their 
village,  b.ut  Ijy  their  superior  knowledge  of  the  woods,  thery- 
evaded  us.  1  tben  retrogot-aded  to  hunt  the  desefrted  villa;ge, 
which  we  found,  containing  twenty-eight  lodges,  and  also  a 
trail,  which  we  pursned.  At  the  distance  of  one  mile  we  di'^- 
covciv?d  our  former  foe,  on  the  same  trail.  I  immediately 
chatiged  with  all  my  force  at  full  spcedi  oni  the  path,  whiedi 
raO'  on  a  ridge  not  more  than  three  hundired  on*  four  hxin- 
dred  yards  \vide,  enclosed  on  «?a>eh  .'ride  by  two  creeks*  ruH' 
ning  nearly  pacralilel,  and  on  each  side  of  whidi  was  an  ex- 
tended bottom,  grown  up  with  undeanvood'  sO'  as  to  be  im- 
passable for  horeemen,  a  distance  of  about  five  miles,  which 
brought  us  up  with  the  enemy's  new  village,  without  ovcf- 
taking  them ;  but  coaatinuing  directly  thTOugdi'  the  camp, 
thereby    alarming    men,    womcti  and  chfldreo,   who   all  fled 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  :iol 

before  we  eouLd  get  within  gunshot  distance,  to  abno«t  im- 
peaietrable  thickets,  abandoning  every  vestige  of  their  prop- 
erty. I  luid  dismounted  in\-  men,  leaving  the  ca.ptured  pi'op- 
erty  and  onr  horses  under  charge  of  Lieut.  Love  and  a  dje- 
ta-chment,  and  commenced  scourin/g  tbe  bottom,  audi  succeeded 
in  collecting  some  prop-ei'ty ;  and  had  •a  few  sliots  froan  the 
eniemy,  whieJi  were  returued  Avith  effect.  During  my  abs^enee. 
Lieut).  Love  received  a  few  sihots,  which  Avere  promptly  re- 
tui*ned  Avith  eff'ect. 

"I  haA'e  onl;^-  to  I'eport  C^ol.  F.  I.  Smith  slightly  Avouud- 
ed  va  tilie  hiaaid ;  three  of  the  enemy  killed,  some  Avound-ed ; 
and  mine  mules,  tAventy-thaee  hcirses,  some  ])OAvd'ei',  lead  and 
axjes,  pejtfe,  etc.,  tiikv'U — all  of  which  Ave  es/tiinatv  Avortli 
ttii^e  thousand.  d'oLlars. 

"After  buiining  tlieir  A'illage  and  destroying  eAeiythinig 
that  could  be  useful,  Avdiich  Ave  could  not  transport.  1  took  up 
the  limje  ojf  maarch  for  tdiis'  place,  and  arriA^ed  here  la^t  night, 
aW  well." 


Yucatan  declaa-td  its  imd'cpendence  ilay  l<i,  and  engaged 
in  wajr  with  Mexico,  Miliich  gave  tlie  latter  coumtry  some- 
thing, besides  inA^ading  Texa*.  to  think  about.  This  circum- 
stance Avas  of  couree  fortamijte  for  the  people  of  Texas. 
Nevertheless,  peace  did  not  prevail,  as  the  Indians  Avere  con- 
stantly plundei'ing  and  murderiing  in  all  parts  of  the  Repub- 
lic, and  more  escpecially  a?iong  the  northern  froutiei-  during 
this  ye-ar. 


BIRD'S  FORT. 

As  a  prelude  to  what  foUoAvs.  it  must  bo  r(Mnembei(^d 
that  Jatii>  as  lvS41,  Clarksville  was  t:he  m«5St  Avestorly  tof\vn  of 
any  noite  in  the  valley  of  Tu-<1  Rive.r — there  Avere  seattea-ed 
«ettleni€nt.s  in  Lamar  and  Fannin  eouniti(.«i;  principally 
along  tbe  river;  amd  a  fe^w  cabins  along  tlie  Sulphure,  and 
betAveen  tihes-e  streams  and  R.-d  liiver,  high  up  as  Foi-t  Ing- 
Hsh,  (near  where  Bonham  djoav  st^indis)  ;  at  old'  Wai-i^n.  (in 
Panaiu     county);     and     the   most     westerly    sol'fleuient     at 


852  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

PrestoQi,   apposite  th^  mouth  of  th«  Washita  River,    known 
as  Coffee's  Trading  House. 

Bands  of  hostile  Indians  wer«  constantly  depredating  on 
42iese  €<x,poised  settleaneaits  and  murdetrim^  the  less  protectexl 
inhabitant-s — as  their  massacre  of  the  Ripley  family  on  Rip- 
ley's Creek,  in  Titus  county,  e^rly  in  April,  1841,* 
and  variouis  O'Utrages  in  the  Warren  neigOiborhood  amd  else- 
wheo-e,  as  we  shall  marrat^. 

In  the  Avinter  of  1840-41,  Captain  John  Bird  or- 
ganized and  led  a  company  of  threo  months  rangers 
from  Bowie  and  Red  River  counties,  up  tlhe  Trinit|r 
River,  for  the  purpose  of  locating  and  establishing  a 
military  post,  as  a.  means  of  encouraging  settleanents  in  tha.t 
section.  At  that  time  there  wa5ala\¥  of  the-  Republic  donat- 
ing lauds  for  this  purpose.  A  site  was  chosen,  and  a  stock- 
ade erected,  some  tvvo  or  three  miles  east  of  the  pre^etnt 
town  of' Birdvilllc,  on  tihe  Main  or  West-  fork  of  the  Txinitj, ' 
which  was  named  Bird's  Fort,  but  foi*  some  cause — Uve  tdnue 
of  their  enlistment  expirinig — the  rangers  returned  homc;, 
loaving  the  post  unoccupied.  A  little  later  Capt.  Robert 
Sloan  led  a  prospecting  party  las  far  out  as  the  fort;  but 
soon:  returned,  one  of  the  party,  David  Clubb,  lat-e  of  Illi- 
nois, and  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1832,  having 
been  killed  by  Indians  at  a  sm^ll  lake  icai  Ekn  fork  of  the 
Trinity,  a  shorli  distance  above  its  mouth,  and  below  the 
Keenaai   crossing. 

Follovring;'  these  expeditions,  in  lihe  fall  of  r841,  the 
brave  and  hardy  pioneers,  Ilamp  Rattan,  Captain  Ma- 
bel  Gilbert,  and  Joilm   Beeman,     \\-ith  tiheir  families,  and  a 


♦  Early  in  Apri!  Indians  attacked  the  Ripley  family  at  their  home  on  the  old  Cherokee 
trace,  on  Ripley  Creek,  in  Titus  county.  Mr.  Ripley  v.as  absent  from  home  at  the  time. 
His  son  (twenty  years  of  age)  was  shot  and  killed  while  plowing  in  the  field;  his  eldest 
daughter  (about  sixteen  years  old)  was  shot  and  killed  while  rurning  frcm  the  house;  two 
young-er  daughters  escaped  by  reaching  and  taking  refuge  in  a  thicket.  Mrs.  Ripley  end 
all  of  her  smaller  children  save  one  were  beaten  to  death  with  clubs  while  trying  to  mske 
their  way  to  a  cane  brake  situated  t^^o  hundred  yards  from  thtir  cabin.  The  child.not 
■with  the  mother,  was  asleep  in  the  house  and  was  burned  to  death,  the  Indians  plundering 
and  then  settinsr  fire  to  the  habitation  which  was  reduced  to  ashes.  This  horrible  crime 
led  to  the  organization  of  a  retalitory  expedition,  which  took  some  time  to  organize  in  tb«t 
sjiarscly  settled  section,  and  which  was  led  into  the  Indian  country  by  Gen.  Tarrant. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  353 

few  singLe  m^eai,  located*  at  Bird's  For.tj  Expecting  to  find 
an,  abundance  of  g'ame  in  the  coiintry,  the  settLers  canried 
out  a  scant  supply  of  provisions,  but  tho  Indians  ihad  bum- 
■ed  off  the  grass  from  .all  that  section,  and)  mo  gamie  of  any 
kind  was  to  be  found.  So,  late  in  November  of  this  y^iar, 
a  wagon  was  sent  back  to  Red  River  for  supplies.  Being 
overdue,  three  of  the  settilers,  Alex  W.  Webb,  (in  1905  liv- 
ling  at  Mesquite,  in  Dalla-s  county),  Solomon  Silkwood,  and 
Hamp  Rattan,  went  in  search  of  the  wagon  party.  Reaching 
a  point  about  one  and)  a  half  miLea  south-east  of  the  present 
town  of  Carrollton,  on  lihe  east  side  of  Elm  Fork,  Christmas 
day,  they  halted  to  cut  a  bee  tree,  when  they  were  attacked 
by  a  small  party  of  concealed  Indians.  Rattan  was  killed; 
but  Webb  and  Silkwood,  after  killing  one  of  the  Indians, 
escaped  to  the  fort.  One  of  the  single  men  now 
went  out,  and  soon  met  thai  relief  wagon,  whi'ch  reached  the 
8Gene  of  the  tragedy  on  the  30th  of  the  month,  where  they 
found  Rattan  'a  body,  etill  guarded  by  ihis  faithful  dog.  The 
remains  were  carried'  to  the  fort,  and  in  a  rude"  coffin  made 
of  an  old  wagon  bed,  committed  to  earth.  Thia  worthy  pio- 
neer and  martyr  was  a  brother  of  Mrs.  A.  J.  Witt  (de- 
ceased) of  Dallas  county,  and  Mrs.  W.  J.  Throckmorton  and 
Mrs.  Wm.  Fitzhugh,  of  CoUin  county.  Two  of  his  brothers — 
John  and  Littleton  Rattan  participated  in  the  Village  Creek 
fight. 

At  the  time  of  the  tragedy  snow  was  six  inches  deep 
and  the  weather  intensely  cold,  and  from  the  exposure  on  the 
trip,  Silkwood  sickened  and  ditd  And  thus  commenced  the 
first  permanent  settlement  on  the  upper  waters  of  the  Trin- 
ity. 


GENERAL  TARRANT'S  EXPEDITION. 

GeneTial  Edward  Tanrant  was  a  gallant  soldiea-,  an^d  one 
otf  the  successful  leiadeais  of  volunteers  anid  ivunigers  in  the 
defense  of  the  northeasteiin  part  of  Texas  against  Indians. 
He  was  al&o  a  briMiiant  and  noted  lawyer — long  residing  in 
Bowie  county,  but  later  removing  to  Ellis  county,  wiheire  he 


354  BORDBH  WABS  OF  TEXAS, 

died'.  The  success  of  the  expeditichn  wihieii  he  headed  against 
the  great  Indiani  enjoampiimit  on  Villjage  Creek  in  1841,  was 
reason  for  attaching  has  name  to  ihe  county  embracing  the 
^ttieatre  of  has  fearless  exploit^  om  that  occasioai.  The  hoai- 
or  conferred  was  well  besbowed.  The  location)  of  ithis  for- 
miidable  force  of  depredating  Indiamis  was  at  a  point  soane 
distance  east  of  Port  "Worth,  andi  a  few  mdles  west  of  thie 
town  of  Arlington,  a  little  south  of  wihiere  the  Teixas  amd  Pa- 
cific railroad  crosses  Villag-e  Creek' — within  sight  of  the  in- 
teiT'Uirban  caTs  that  now  speed  to  and  firo  every  few  minutes 
betweeni  Fort  Worth  and)  Dallas. 

No'  full  ajnd  reliable  narrative  of  Tarrant's  eixpediition, 
ttie  Village  Creek  fight  and  tragic  death  of  the  celebrated 
ptomeer  preacher,  lawyer  and  Indian  fightctr — Johni  B.  Den- 
ton^— has  ever  before  been  published.  The  official  accoupt 
which  follows,  was  recently  diecoivered  among  the  Army  Ar- 
chi*ves  ini  the  State  Library  at  Austin.  The  doeument  was 
wmitteni  by  Actin/g  Brigade  Inspector  "Wm.  N.  Porter,  unid-eo' 
•date,  Bowie  county,  June  5,  1841,  reportingi  to  Secretary  of 
War  Branch  T.  Archer,  and  reads: 

"By  order  of  Geta.  Edward  H.  Tarrant,  Brigadier  Gesa- 
ereil  of  the  Fourth  Brdgadle  Texas  Militia,  I  communicate  to 
you  the  following  facts  relative  tO'  an  espeditioni  which  be 
has  lately  completed^  agaa/nst  the  hostile  Indi-ans. 

"On  thie  14th  of  May,  he  left  Fort  Johnson,  above  Cof- 
fee's Station  (the  Iheai  abandoned  potst,  established  by  Wjxk. 
*G.  Cooke  at  <xr  near  the  present  city  of  Denison. — ^Author) 
with  one  company  of  men.  commanded  by  Capt.  James  BouiP- 
lamd.  Owin^  to  late  depredations  by  Indians  of  a  more  fre- 
quent and  dariaag  character,  and  learning  that  the  villsyge  of 
Indiams  'had!  lately  been  ddscovered  on  the  headwatiers  of  the 
Trinity  River,  he  determined,  with  the  small  numher  of  sfilx- 
ty-ndne  men,  if  possible,  to  find  the  Indians'  andl  attack 
thiem.  We  marchied  five  days  in  a  directioni  a  little  sontih 
<xf  west,  passing  through  the  lower  cross-timbers,  and  cross- 
ing the  head  branches  of  the  middle  fork  of  the  Trinity. 
On  the  fifth  day  we  entered  the  upper  cross-timbers  and 
chasQged  our  directioai  a  little  miore  south.    On  the  19th  we 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  355 

diflcov-eped  tolerably  fresh  signs.  We  tad  every  reafion  to 
believe  there  "were  IndiauB  m  the  vicinity.  We  soon  found 
two  villages,  which  we  fo-imd  to  be  deserted.  The  Indians, 
at  &ome  time  previous,  had  cultivated  corn  at  these  vililaiges. 
Theire  were  some  sixty  or  seveiuty  lodlges  \n  these  fwo  vil- 
lages. They  were  on  the  main  western  branch  of  the  Trin- 
ity^ They  being  situated'  on  high  braaiches  of  the  moun- 
tains, Gen.  Tarraait  deemed  ilt  imprudent  to  burn  the  villages, 
for  fear  of  givimg  alarm  to  the  Indians.  Forottni  such  elevat- 
ed positionsi  the  smoke  could  have  beeoi  seen  for  many 
miles ;  but  ^h&y  were,  in  a  gxeat  measure,  destroyed  wdth 
our  axes.  We  eihianiiged  our  course  southeast,  following  the 
course,  for  some  diatanee,  of  the  main  wesltern  branch  of  the 
Trinity ;  and  on  the  21st»  we  crossed  the  hig>h  divide,  and  that 
nighit  camped  on  the  eastern  branch  of  tihe  Brazos.  Find- 
ing noi  Midian  eigmis  here,  we  chaairged'  our  course  east  umtil 
»wie  again  sitruck  the  Trinity,  intendiaiig  to  scour  the  western 
braneh  to  its  mouth.  On  the  24rt;b  we  came  to  the  ford)  wf 
the  Trihity,  wlheine  Generals  Rusk  anid  Dyer  charged  tiw 
Kickapoo  camp  in  1838,  in  sigh't  of  tbe  lower  cross-timbers. 
Heire  we  necroseed  the  Trinity  frojm  the  eastern  side  to  the 
western'  side,  ajnd  upoxi  the  high  prairies  oaie  male  from  the 
ford,  we  found  very  fresh,  signs  of  Ind&aais.  The  spies  wef« 
flent  iahead,  andi  'returned  and  reported  the  Indian  village 
in  three  miles.  We  arrived  in  three  or  four  hiimdred  yands, 
end  took  up  a  position  behind  a  thicket.  The  men  were  or- 
dleredi  to  divest  themselves  of  their  blankets,  packs,  and  all 
manner  of  incumbrances,  after  wbioh  the  line  was  formed 
and  the  order  gdven  to  charge  JBosto  the  village  on  horse- 
back." 


FAMOUS  VILLAGE  CREEK  FIGHT. 

"Aire  you  all  ready?  *  *  *  Now  my  btave  men,  -we  wiH 
never  all  meet  on  earth  again ;  there  is  grest,  conf^nsion  and 
death  ahead.  I  shall  expect  every  man  to  fill  his  place  and 
do  his  dlity"  were  the  all  too  true  words  of  admonition  ut- 
tered by  the  tgrian  and  fearless  Tarrant  as  he  gave  his  or- 


356  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

d'CTs  andf  k<i  ibis  brav^e  meni  m  the  d^isperate  chargie.  In  a 
mo'ment  the  somid.  of  f  irea.rms,  with  a  vodee  of  thmicLea*,  rang 
out  over  the  alarmed  and  terror-sitriokeo  inhabitanlts  of  that 
rud«  city  of  the  wild-ennesis.  The  onslaught  was  fierce  and 
the  surprise  complete— 'the  Indiaans  fallkiig  im  deajth  before 
they  'Could  escape  from  their  lodges^  or  fleedtng  in  wild  con- 
fui^on.  "The  village  was  tak€?n  in  an  instaoii,"  say®  the  otf- 
ficial  report,  wQieh  we  now  resume: 

"Discovering  a  large  trail  leadaang  down  the  creek  and 
fianue  of  the  Imdiaai'S  haviikg  gone  in  itha/t  diireetioai,  a  few 
men  were  left  at  the  last  village  and  the  resrt,  at  full  speed 
took  their  course  down  the  creek  upon  which  the  viillage 
was  situated. 

"Two  miles  from  ithe  first  village  we  buTst  suddenly  up- 
on another  village,  TMs  waa  takeai  like  the  first.  Th«re 
was  aoiother  vdllage  in  sig-bt  below.  Many  of  the  hojnaes 
havdaig  failed,  the  men  ran  towards  tihe  viUag©  oai  foot;  (burtl 
the  Indians,  having  beard  the  firing  at  the  secondl  villajge, 
h^ad  time  to  take  odBf  tiheliir  guns  and  ammimiftion  and  cosn- 
menced  occasionally  to  return  our  fire. 

"From  this  time  there  was  no  diistiflietian  of  viliages,  but 
one  continuous  village  for  tihe  distainc*  of  one  mile  amd  a 
iualf ,  only  separated  by  the  creek  upon  which  it  was  situated. 
We  had  now  become  so  Bcattered  that  Gen.  Tarxamt  deemed 
it  advisable  to  establish  eome  rallying  point  to  which  smaller 
parties  slLOuld  be  expected  to  a:^y.  We  'mardhed  back  to 
the  second  village,  and  the  rear  guajrd  with  the  pack  having 
comi©  up,  the  General  chose  this  as  the  position.  From  this 
point  Capt.  John  B.  Denton  (aide  to  Geai.  Tarrrent)  and 
Capt.  Bourland  took  each  ten  men,  for  the  purpose  of  scour- 
imjg  the  woods.  The  parties  went  in  different  directions,  but 
formed  a  junctioui  one  male  and  a  half  below  the  second  vil- 
lage. FiTom  tliiis  point  tlhey  intended  to  return,  bu,t  discover- 
inig  a  very  large  trail' — 'much  lairgea*  thain  amy  we  had  seen, 
iOne  end  of  w^hdch  led  over  a  mountain  west,  the  other  east 
towards  the  mainj  Trinity,  crossing  ftlhe  creek  upoui  wliich 
the  villages  were  situated — they  were  compelled  to  crosis  the 
creek  at  the  lower  end  of  a  bend  which  was  formed  like  a 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  357 

liorse-slboe.  Th^y  tuTtnted  to  cross  the  Greek,  pereeivdoig 
througth)  tih>6  tim'bicr  what  appeared  to  be  a  village  still  larg- 
er tihan  any  they  had  heretofore  Been;  but  just  as  the 
two  detadhmemits  were  on  the  eve  of  enjierioiig  tjhe  oreek,  tlhey 
were  fared)  on  by  am  enieimy  thajt  could  not  be  seen.  At  the 
first  fine  Gen.  Tarramit's  aide,  Capt.  Denton,  was  killed  aaid 
Capt.  Stout  sevenely  woumdedl- — Oapt.  Griffin  BLisgMly ;  the 
clothes  of  many  otthers  were  piercedi  with  balls,  but  fortunate- 
ly no  one  else  was  touched.  Situated  as  they  W'cxe,  it  was 
impossdible  to  maiaibain  thedr  position,  being  fired  at  from  al- 
most every  quarter  amd  unable  to  see  the  enemy.  In  this  sdt- 
uatiooi  the  men  did  the  best  thev  could — diBmounting,  some 
of  themi  raising  the  yell,  and  making  every  dJemonstration 
as  though  they  intended'  to  charge  the  creek.  The  Indian 
yells  and  firing  soon*  ceaeed,  and'  both  parties  left  the 
ground..  It  was  not  the  wish  o'  Geu.  Tajrant  to  take  acay 
prisoners.  Tiie  women  and'  children,  except  one,*  we  suffer- 
ed to  esctape,  iif  tihey  wished,  and  the  mem  neither  asked, 
gave  or  received  any  quarter. 

''From  the  pirisonters  whom  we  (had  taken,  we  learned 
tihat  at  those  villages  there  were  upwards  of  one  tlhousand 
warriors,  not  more  than  half  of  whotm  were  then  at  home. 
The  other  half  were  hunting  buffalo,  and  stealinig  on  the 
frontier.  Here  was  the  depot  for  the  stolen  horsasi  from  our 
frontier,  apd  the  home  of  the  horrible  savages  who  had 
murdered  ouir  faanilies.  They  were  pontions  of  a  igood  many 
tribesi — iprincipally  the  Cherokees  who  were  driven  from 
Nacogdoches  county,  some  Creeks  and  Seminoles,  Wacos, 
Caddoe,  Kickapoos,  Anadarcos,  ete.  We  counted  twO'  hund- 
red and  twenty-five  lodges,  all  in  occupation,  besides  those 
that  they  oould  see  a  glimpse  of  through  the  trees  in  the 
main  village.  They  had  about  three  hundred  acres  in  corn, 
that  we  aaw ;  and  were  abundanitily  provided  with  ammuni- 
tion of  every  kind.  They  had  good  guns  and  hadl  moulded 
a  great  nuaaiy  buUeta.     Each  lodge  had  two  or  three*  little 


4'Gen.  Tarraat  kept  on  Indtao  ohiM  tk»t  Wat  c«t>t«re<l.  batrcturacd  ft  to  ita  mother 
at  a  council  held  is  the  Indfaa  Territorgr  ia  1843. 


358  BORDER  WABS  OP  TEXAS. 

bags  of  powder  and  lead,  tied  up  in  equal  portions;  and,  at 
(One  lod!g«,  a  sort  of  blaeksmiith  shop,  where  we  found!  a  set 
of  blacksmith's  tools.  We  Sound  over  a  half  bushel  of 
moulded  bullets,  and  we  alsio  found  some  sergeant's 
ewords,  musket  flints,  rifle  and  mu^et  powder,  pig  leiad, 
a/nd  musket  balls,  which  we  supposed  they  must  have  taken 
from  the  place  where  the  regular  army  buried  a  portion  .of 
their  ammunition.  They  had  all  manner  of  fasTming  utetmsils 
of  the  best  quaHity,  except  plows.  In  some  of  thei  lodges 
we  found  feather  beds  aiud  bedsteads. 

'*We  felt  donvi-niced  if  the  Indiaos  could)  ascertiain  the 
smallne&s  of  (mr  nium;bers,  they  might,  with  so  great  a  num- 
ber, by  taking  advantage  of  us  at  the  crotssing  of  the  creeks 
with  such  ionmense  thickets  in  their  bottoms,  which  we  were 
compelled  to  cxioiss,  if  not  defeat,  at  least  cut  off  a  great 
many  -of  ooir  meoi ;  aoid,  if  we  had  remiained  at  the  village  all 
night,  it  would  'have  giveni'  the  Indians  time  to  have  coinceai- 
trated  their  forces,  ascertained  our  nunubens,  lamdi  with  ease 
have  prevented  our  crossing  a  stream  of  the  size  of  the 
Trinity.  It  was  deemed  advisable,  therefore,  to  take  up  the 
line  of  march  and  cross  the  Trinity  that  night.  At  5  o'clock 
with  our  poor,  dead  coanpanion  tied  across  a  horse,  we  left 
the  village,  marched  twelve  miles  back  on  the  trail  we  came, 
crossed  the  Trinity,  and  camped  in  the  open  prairie.  The 
next  morning,  twenty-five  miles  from  the  village,  we  buried 
ouir  friend,*  and  in  five  more  days  we  arrived  in  the  settle- 
ments. 

"We  had  one  killed;  one  badly,  and  one  slightly  wound- 
ed. The  Indians  had  twelve  killed,  thait  we  loounted;  and  a 
great  miany  more  must  have  been  killed  and  woiumded,  from 
the  quantity  of  blood  wie  saw  on  their  traiils  and  in  the 
thickets  where  they  h.ad  run. 

"We  bnought  in  six  head  of  cattle,  thirty-seveoi  horses, 
three  hundred  pounds  of  lead,  thirty  pounds  of  powder, 
twenty   brass   kettles,   twenty-one   axes,     seventy-'three  buf- 

♦  Accounts  differ  as  to  the  name  of  the  creek  where  Denton  was  first  buried.  One 
that  it  was  on  a  rock  ridge  in  Fossil  Creek  bottom  near  where  Birdville  now  stands,  and 
another  that  it  was  on  a  bluff  of  Oliver  Creek  in  Denton  county. 


BORDER  WAKS  OF  TEXAS.  35^ 

falo  DObes,  fifteen  guns,  thirteen  pack  sadidlles,  and     three 
swords,  besides  drvers  other  thangs  oat  reeoliected." 


DEATH  OF  DENTON. 

But  little  oafn  be  added  to  th«  fionetgoing,  A  few  words 
anent  the  tragdjc  deiath  of  thie  noble  Captaim  Deatcm.  Dur- 
ing the  terrible  engagement;  in  whch  Denton  was  killed,  the 
brave  old  piceeer  Indiaai  fighter,  Capt.  John  Yeary,  called 
out  at  t)he  top  of  his  voice:  "Wihy  in  tibe  h^ — 1  doni't  you 
move  your  men  ooit  where  we  can  see  the  enemy?  We'll  all 
be  killed  here."  To  which  Captain  Hetrnry  Stont,  himself  a 
bnave  and  aotedJ  pioneier  leader  and  Inddaii  fighter,  said: 
*'Men,  do  tbe  best  you  oan  for  youi^elves.  I  am  \vounded 
amd  powerless,"  and  at  once  an,  irregoilar  retreat  be,gan.  The 
detachment  bad  fallen  into  an  ambiuseiade. 

The  shot  that  pienced  Denton  was  so  deadly  that  there 
was  evidently  mo  death  struggle.  He  bad  balanced  himself 
in  his  saddle,  raised  bis  gun,  and  closed  one  eye,  intending 
to  deal  death  oipon  the  enemy  when  the  death  shoek  struck 
him.  "Wben  bis  death  was  discovered  his  muscles  were  grad- 
ually relaxiing,  and  his  gnn,  yet  in  his  band,  was  inclining 
to  the  groujnd.  The  men  oearest  to  him  took  him  from  his 
horse  and  laid  bim  on  the  ground. 

The  late  venerated  pioneer,  Rev.  Andrcfw  Davis,  then  a 
lad,  who  participated  in  the  Village  Creek  battle,  says: 
^' After  tenderly  wrapping  the  body  of  Denton  and  securing 
it  on  a  gentle  horse,  about  4:30  p.  m.,  we  moved  out  from 
tbe  village,  and  np  the  river  to  a  point  near  Fort  Worth, 
and  there  spent  the  nijght.  Early  nes?t  mjoming  we  crossed 
the  river  at  a  place  whiere  the  timber  was  narrow.  After 
crossing  tbe  river,  we  traveled  in  tbe  direction  of  Bird 's  Sta- 
tion, aiming  for  Bonham — then  Fort  Inglish — as  our  ob- 
jective poilnt.  At  about  11  a.  m,  we  halted  on  a  prairie  on 
tbe  soiuth  Slide  of  a  creek,  with  a  high  bank  on  the  north. 
On  one  of  those  elevations  Captain  Denton  was  buried — 
tools  baviing  been  brought  along  from  the  village  for  that 
pnrpose.    His  grave  was  diug  a  good  depth.     A    thin    roek 


360  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS 

was  curt;  6K>  as'  (to  fit  m  tbe  bioit  bom  of  the  gr-ave;,  similar  rocks 
beimg  plaicedi  a)t  thie  sides  'and'  also  a-t  tihie  heiad'  amd  food, 
Ajnother  rock  was  placed  ofver  ihe  body,  lamd  the  grave  fi'll- 
-ed  up.  Tihaifi  was  boiried  one  of  God's  noblemen."  And  so 
perished  one  of  Texas'  brainiest  and  best  men,  a  fine  ora- 
tor, far  above  thie  averagie  in;  inlteUecit,  -amd,  had  ihe  liv»ed, 
would  have  proved  a  blessing  to  his  icoufliitry  and  assistied 
majterially  in  itsi  ladvamcememt — 

"Thie  pdoneer  was  laid  to  resrt;, 

Tihe  ned  mjaai'  set  him  freie, 
Difi/toirb  Mm  mot,  bait  let  him  sleep 

Beneath  the  old  oak-tree."* 

But  the  precious  bones  of  the  beloved  Deiutoai)  were  dis- 
turbed, and  finally,  after  three  quardgrs  of  a  century,  prop- 
erly honored — ibaving  beieaii  interred  three  times.  First,  by 
his  sorrowing  comrades  in  arms,  im  that  Lonely  wiidemesa 
grave,  io  May,  1841 ;  a  second  time,  when  the  pioneer  cattle- 
maoi  of  Denton  cooinity,  John  Chisoim,  exhumed  the  remains 
and  g'a/ve  th€m  burial  in  liis  yard  a/t  tihe  Cihiisfumi  raneih,  near 
Bolivar,  in  I860;  and  a  third  time,  m  1901^  whem,  througih 
pa4;riiiotie  proonptiaigs  of  members  of  the  Old  Settlers  Asso- 
ciation of  Dentcai  eounty,  all  /tbat  reomained  mortal  of  the 
hero  were  gathered  up,  aiud.  after  am.  approprriate  ad- 
dress by  the  late  Rev.  Wm.  Allen,  extolling  tihe  deeds  and  il- 
lumining the  character  of  the  deceased,  and  amid  solemn  and 
impoeinig  cerem/omaes,  the  remains  were  laid  to  fiaiail  rest  be- 
neatih  a  suitably  inscribed  slab,  in  the  court  house  yard  at 
Denton,  the  capital  town  of  that  fair  coupaty,  each  of  which, 
as  well  as  the  primeipal  stream  wh'ich  courses  throoigh  that 
county,  and  am  insstitutioin  of  leamimg,  were  named  for  amd 
will  ever  perpetuate  the  memory  of  one  of  the  bravest  and 
noblest  defenders  of  the  Texas  frontier.. 


OTHEB  EXPEDITIONS  AGAINST  THE  INDIANS. 

June  13,  1841,  Brig.  Gem.  Jamee  Smitth,     3rd     Brigade, 

•'WilUtrcer's  **lBdlaa  DcprHatioai  In  Texas." 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS  36] 

Texas  Militia,  wrote  from  Nacogdoches  to  President  Lamar, 
saying  that  Major  Gage  and  his  spy  company  had  attacked 
a  party  of  fifteenj  Iindiains  amd  pursued  thie  survivors,  eight 
m.  nfumber,  aed  ambush.edl  them  at  tlie  crossin,g  of  tihe  Trim- 
ity,  where  they  killed  sevem  of  them' — omly  ome  of  ihe  fifteen 
eseiapiflig. 

Capt.  Eli  Chandler^  itn  a  report*  dated!  Jume  19,  1841, 
gives  asa  account  of  au  erxpedition  to  the  niorth>we'st  boumd- 
axy  of  the  cross'-timbers,  om.  the  divide  beftweem  the  Bnazos 
acid  Trinity  rivers,  firom  which  he  had  just  retumed  with  a 
command  of  forty-one  men.  Near  the  point  specified,  he  cap- 
tured a  yoiujng  Mexieani  who  comducted  him  to  an  Indiaai 
village  from  <wihioh  the  waariors  were  absemit.  On  the  'way  to 
and  in,  the  vElage,  he  took  fourteen  prisioners.  One  of  theae 
informed  ihim  that  si'Xity  warrioris  were  to  meet  at  the  vil- 
lage to  go  on  a  hiuint.  Thereupon,  he  des.pateh€d'  an  aged 
woman  to  tell  her  people  to  bring  in  the  Ameiriean  prisojnera 
they  had,  and'  the  Inddan  piris  oners  would  be  released  amd 
a  friendly  oom.paict  -rptered  into,  Oontibiuing,  he  says:  "I 
thien  proceeded  immediately  to  where  I  lejft  my  baggaige, 
where  I  arrived  abomt  1  olcLoek  p.  m.  The  party  of  warri/ors 
above  spoken'  of,  to  the  pumber  of  sixty,  had/  arrived  early 
in  tiie  day  and  attacked  my  bag,gage  guard,  who  retreated 
a  sbort  dnstalnice  to  a  ravine,  tipofc  position  and  by  their  nn- 
ion  and  vailor,  siuccecdedl  dfcii  driving  bacik  the  enemy  with  Itiie 
loss  of  their  chief  and  cne  other  killed.  The  whole  number 
of  Indianis  kilk-d  were  four,  and  three  or  four  iwoujnded. 
None  of  my  command  received  the  slighest.  imjury  from  t<he 
enemy.  He  says  that  he  abandoned  further  pursuit  as  his 
force  w«s  sma'll  Kind  be  had  the  prisionen.;  to  guard,  and  re- 
turned to  Franklin,  He  askiS  instruictions  asi  to  wihat  he  shall 
do  with  the  prisoners.  He  says;  'The  Mexican  prisoner 
taken  is  a  young  man  of  smart  intcviligence — speaks  the  Eng- 
Iish'  language  quite  well — states  that  be  has  been  liivdng 
among  the  Chocitaws) — ^was  among  tliese  Imdd<.n«  trading — 
says  they  were  prdncijpaliy  Ionics,  some  Sbawnees,     a     few 

rt-Aimj  Arcbirea. 


3S2  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Wiaoo6;  that  the  "Wiacio's  and  Ch^xokees  live  not  far  divtasat; 
that  the  TfthuaoaiDias,  Oaddos,  Kiekapotois,  etc.,  all  make  coam 
betweeoi  the  Brazos  andl  Trinity  riv«rs;  that  matny  of  them 
live  art;  wbait  is  ciall-ed  the  Big  Beoid  Viillage  Oin  thie  Bnazoe, 
whiioh  'h«i  says  is  about  -twemty  miles  albove  "where  the  Aan^eoi- 
camis  were  last  winiter ;  thait  aill  of  thie  different  tribes  talk  of 
gettiaig  togethier  and  livdoig  at  one  plia<?e;  that  ther^e  is 
some  little  talk  among  them  of  making  peace  with  the  Ameri 
teaais;  tliat  they  are  giejnenalily nearly  destitfute  of  provisions 
and  have  great  difficulty  in  obtaicaimg  the  same;  that  they 
say  they  obtaiin  their  large  quantities  of  lead  by  finditig  it 
'buried  ini  the  upper  cooitUitry ;  s'ayis  he  can  take  us  to  several 
encampment  IS .  I  expect  to  make  anotlner  expedition  as  soon 
as  my  horses  recruit,  if  circumstanices  shonld  indilcate  the 
same. '  '* 


THE  SAN>TA  FE  EXPEDITION. 

The  Santa  Fe  expedition,  recommended  by  tbe  Secre- 
tary of  War  and  sanctioned  by  President  Lamar,  left  Brushy 
Creek,  near  xiustin,  June  20,  1S41,  to  traverse  six  hun- 
dred miles  of  wildernesis  to  Santa  Fe.  It  was  commianded  by 
Brig.  Gen.  Hugh  McLeod,  brother-in-law  of  President  Lamar 
and  consisted  of  five  coanpa&iies  of  mounted  infantry  and  an 
artillery  compiany  with  one  brass  six-poundier  (a  total  of  two 
hundred  and' sieTenty  sKyldiers),  about  fifty  other  persons 
(traders^  teamsters  aind  adventurers),  and  Wm.  G.  Oookie,  R. 
F.  Brenbam,  and  J.  A.  Navarro,  commissioners  instructed 
to  say  to  the  people  of  Santa  Fe  tbat,  if  they  were  willing 
to  acknowledgie  that  portion  of  New  Mexico  as  a  part  of 
Texas,  the  ia\\s  of  the  Republic  would  be  extended  over  them. 


♦  From  July  15th 'o  20th  between  four  hunJrod  and  five  hundred  volunteers  from 
the  Texas  side  of  the  Red  River  assembled  at  Fovt  Infclish  for  the  purpose  of  another  ex- 
pedition into  thp  Indian  country.  They  org-oniyed  by  electing  Willisir  C.  Ycurg,  colonel 
James  Bourland,  lieutenant  colonel;  John  Smitbcr,  pd.iutant.  and  Wiil'am  Lane,  David 
Key.  and  others,  captains.  While  this  v/as  transphinpr  Indians  captured  tv/o  little  boys 
on  the  Bois  d'Arc  fork  of  river,  a  few  miles  distant,  and  carrii  d  them  off.  The  children 
vsrere  recovered  about  two  years  later.  Gen.  Tarrant  assumed  command  of  the  expedi- 
tion. It  moved  southward  into  what  is  Wise  county,  and  received  news  of  its  coming  re- 
turned to  Fort  Ingrlish  and  disbanded. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  363 

but  if  they  did  not,  Texas  wished  to  establish  friendly  com- 
mercial a^ela/tioois  witih  them  aind  wofuldi  not  use  force  to  as- 
sesrt  ifts  territordial  claims.  PresidenJt  Lamar  bad  previjoiis'ly 
issued  a  prodlam,atioai  coverdnig  the  samie  giroailndi  aaid  declar- 
iog  the  •dbjeicts  of  the  expedition  to  be  whwUy  paicdfic. 

Priendis  of  the  emterpris^  hiad  introduced  a  bill  in  Con- 
gtness,  auithoriziimg  it,  but  the  measure  had  be«n  rejected  by 
both  houses.  It  "wias,  thenefore  withoxit  statutory  warraait, 
and  was  ukwiertaken  solely  upon  execjutive  respomisibilifty. 
The  only  legal  saAiotion  that  could  be  claimied  for  it  was 
that  the  aict  of  1836,  diefilning  the  boundiaries  of  Texas,  in- 
cluded' Santa  Fe  iki  the  limiirts  of  the  Republic  and  ib  was  the 
du<ty  of  the  PreisidietQit  to  enforce  the  sovereign  jurisdictioin 
asserted. 

lit  is  said)  that  the  season  selected  fior  tlie  uiiidertiaking 
w^as  too  late  'atnd  as  a  consequence,  there  was  miuch  sufferiaig 
for  want  of  gtrass  atnd  water.  The  wagons  wiere  overloiaded, 
the  distance  to  Santa  Fe  was  under-estimatied,  and  the 
guides  weiTie  unfamiliar  -wdth  the  rofuite.  There  seems  to  have 
beein  a  fatal  comibin'art^iooi  of  circumstancies,  that  foredoomed 
the  expedition  to  the  humiiiatiing  disasters  andi  tragic  suf- 
ferimgis  it  enooaintered.  Not  kniowing  what  awaiited  it,  it 
started  forth  in  the  gayest  spirits  and  with  the  mosit  san- 
guine expecftatioais.  "The  long  train  of  wagons,"  says 
GeofTge  Wilkiflis  Kendall,  "moving  heavily  forward  wilth 
the  different  companies  of  voluutteeris,  all  well  mounited'  atnd 
well  armed  and  riditng  in  double  file,  presented  ain  imposing 
as  Weill  as  atnimatimg  spectacle,  causimg  every  heart  to  beat 
high  with  tihe  anticipation  of  exciting  incidents  on  the  bound- 
leiss  prairies." 

Finally  reaching  New  Mexico,  after  much  suffering  and 
many  adventures,  the  advance  troops  of  the  Santa  Fe  Expe- 
dition under  Col.  Wm.  G,  Cooke,  were  induced,  by  treacher- 
ous representations,  to  lay  down:  their  arms  and  surrender 
to  Commandant  Col.  Salazar,  in  New  Mexico,  on  Sept,  17th, 
1811.  The  remainder  of  the  expedition  foRowed.  The  pris- 
oners were  marched  on  foot  to  the  interior,  (some  perish- 
ing on  the  long  journey)  where  many  of  them  were  impris- 


364  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

ooied  dn  gruesome  and  foul  dungeons  in  the  City  of  Mexi- 
co, and  crtihers  at  Puebla  and  Perote.  News  of  the  disaster 
to  anjd  fate  of  this  expedition  was  not  received  in  Texas  un- 
til in  January,  1842.  Some  of  the  unfortunate  men,  were  re- 
leased at  the  instance  of  Oen.  Andrew  Jackson  and  other 
friends  in  position  to  intercede  for  clemency;  some  died  in 
prison,  and  the  remaining  survivors,  119  in  number,  were 
eventually  all  released  by  order  of  Gen.  Santa  Anna,,  June 
13,  1843. 


BATTLE  IN  OAKON  DE  UVALDE. 

In  June,  1841,  Capt.  Jaek  Haya  havimg  sUghttly  aiugmenit- 
ed  his  company,  pursued  and  defeated  a  deprediatinig  party 
of  Ck)manche!S  near  Uvalde  Canyon,  ibhe  .particulars  of  whieh 
are  giveb  thus  in  hia  official  report: 

San  Antota-ito,  Joily  1,  1841. 
To  (the  Hom.  Branch  T.  Archer,  Secretary  of  Waa*: 

I  havio  the  honor  to  inform  yoiu  that  I  have  this  moroi- 
ing  returned  from  an  expedition  in  pursuit  of  a  i>arty  of  In- 
diians  thait  h^aid  been  coanmitting-  depfredjatioaas,  and  driving 
off  stock  from  the  viicitaity  of  this  plaee.  On  ithie  24th  of 
this  month  I  set  out  witJi  a  compalny  of  thirty  men,  and 
took  the  trail  wiMeh  led  iin  thie  direction  of  ihe  Canyon  de 
Uvalde,  W'heln  within  twto  mliles  lof  the  enrtframice  of  the  cant- 
yon,  we  camte  upon  a  parity  df  Itadians,  on  their  way  from 
the  main  camp  \of  the  viciniity  of  this  town.  I  immediately 
attacked  them  and  succeeded  n  killing  eight,  and.  taking 
the  two  other  prisoners,*  capturijng  ail  their  horses  an-d 
pfroperty.  I  wK)ul)d  have  oontinoied  on  (to  their  main  camp, 
bnt  as  my  horses  wiere  mnaich  jaded,  and  I  foulndi  the  camp 
more  distant  thani  I  expected,  I  cooacluded*  tto  returm,  and  af- 
ter reeruitting  prooeeidteid   to  the  ejnicampment,  the  situation 

If  To  tak«  a  Comanche  pritoaer  w»(  an  affair  of  srreat  difScalty.  Ooe  reason  was  the 
fact  that  tha  Indian  rula  of  warfare  wai  oppoaed  to  letting  a  captive  live  longer  than  cer- 
tain ceremonies  could  be  performed.  la  seme  instances 'key  seeia  te  make  an  exhibit  of 
the  captared  persons  t«  the  tribe  er  nation.  After  this  was  accemplished  a  cmel  and  lin- 
irerins  tortare  was  Inflicted.  It  Is  reasonable  to  sappese  that  the  Comanches  belieTcd 
that  the  whites  iailicted  similar  oatregee  and  alatilar  death  apoa  the  Indian  pris«aers. 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  365 

of  wMch  I  harvie  ascertadned.  But  one  lof  my  «>odiiiaajnd  waa 
woimded — Mr.  Mil'ler — aaid)  be  not  severely.  The  companj 
(OonskteidJ  of  siixteen  America(ns.  In  addition  I  was  aid^ed  by 
Capitiiaini  Moines,  wdtb  a^bout  twonity  M-exiic-aiiB. 

I  have  the  honor  tio  be  your  obedielnit  servaait, 
JOHN  C.  HAYS. 

Captain  Commandiuig. 


BORDER  BANDITTI. 

JoQin  T.  Price  wrote  to  Secretary  of  War  and  Marine 
Bran<ih  T.  Archer,  from  Victoria,  July  2,  as  follows: 

**In-  aooordauioe  with  a  requisition  made  by  -the  Sheriff 
of  itSkia  'Ooucnity  andJ  Refu,giio,  in  oompainy  w^th  sonue  forty 
citizens,  went  to  the  Nueces  for  tlhe  purpose  of  arresting  the 
•marajDJd'eTs  whio  have  for  some  time  past  iinfeetedi  our  fron- 
tier. 

"Our  party  was  composed  of  citizens  of  this  oounty,  R«- 
fiagio  atid  San  Partirico.  We  reached  the  Nueces  on  the  22nd, 
ult.,  and  there  learned  that  a  ehort  time  previouB  a  Mexi- 
can had!  been;  fto  Kinney 's  Raincih  and'  stated  that  a  party  of 
300  soildiera  were  within  thirty  -  fiyle  miles  of  that 
place,  ulnder  the  command  of  Col.  Verial.  He  stated  tjhat 
the  troops  were  in  search  of  oro/bbers  amd  had  succeeded'  in 
surprisin^g  a  party  of  ten  atnd  had!  killed  them  all  but  one. 
The  bo'dies  of  these  men  were  found  by  our  party.  It  ap- 
pears that  .they  (the  robbers)  had  a  short  time  before  killed 
a  party  of  traders  and  robbed  Hhem  of  several  hundred  dol- 
lars, a  lot  of  blankets,  etc.  This  party  of  Americains  -was 
led  by  a  Mr.  Yearby  wlho  formerly  resided  att  Austin. 

"We  learned  also  from  some  Mexicans  recently  from 
Camargo  that  Owensby,  with  about  fifteen  mem,  had  been 
surrounded  by  two  or  three  hundred  Mexicans,  and  thalt 
eight  or  nime  of  his  men  were  killed  and  himself  and  five 
others  taken  prisoners.  Verial  with  his  command  had  re- 
tuTtned  to  the  Rio  Grande  before  our  arival  at  tihe  Nueces. 

"It  appears  fnomJ  the  statement  made  by  the  traders 
who  have  visited  our  counttry  of  late,  that  it  is  the  settled 


366  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

purpose  of  the  Mexican)  autlhtorities  not  otnly  to  assert,  but 
maintain,  thie  ciontrol  of  the  territory  between  the  Nueiees 
and  Rio  Grande.  •  •  •" 

Capt.  Sanchez  (aide  de  camp  to  Gen.  Ampudia),  in  com- 
mand of  fifteen  Mexicani  cavalrymen,  made  a  d'escent  upoto 
Plo-wer  Bluff,  fifteen  miles  eoutih--east  of  Kinney's  and  Au- 
brey's ranch,  and  captured  Phillip  Dimitt,  J.  C.  Boyd, 
Stephen  W.  Farrow  and,  Henry  Graham. 

He  also  took  $6,000.00  worth  of  goods  tihat  had  been  pur- 
chased as  Btocik  for  the  mercantile  establishmetot  of  Dimitt, 
Gurley  and  Farrow.  Boyd  and  Graham  wene  em- 
ployees of  Gurley  and  Farrow-.  Gurley  was.  absent  from  the 
Bluff  at  the  time  tthe  raid  was  made.  Sanichez  di'd  not  dis- 
turb the  store  of  Kinney  and  Aubrey,  which  led  Gurley 
and  others  to  entertain  and  give  expreesiooi  to  opinione 
ttiat  were  perhaps  unjust.  Gurley  writing  •  to  Secretary 
Archer  from  Gonzales,  said)  that  indignation  meetinigs  had 
been  held  at  Victoria,  Lamar,  Gonzales  and  otiher  towns,  and 
tte  people  were  williftig  and  eager  to  turn  out  eU'  masse 
■aake  good  the  Claims  of  Texas  to  the  territory  between  the 
Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  and  inflict  retaliation'  on  Mexico'  for 
injuries  suffered';  that  they  waited  ottily  for  the  Texas  gov- 
ernment to  authorize  them  to  act. 

Dimitt  and'  his  companions  were  taken  to  Maibamoras  amd 
thence  to  Monterey  where  they  were  delivered  to  Arista. 
By  his  order  they  were  manacled  and  marched  to  Saltillo.  On 
the  way  their  irons  were  removed  by  Oapu  Chaffind  who 
commanded  their  guard. 

At  Saltillo  they  made  sn  attempt  to  escape.  Some  of 
them  got  off  «  coffisiderable  distance.  Oapt.  Ghaffind  seoot 
them  word  tlhat  he  would  forgive  them  if  they  returned,  and 
if  they  did  not,  he  would  have  Dimitt  shot.  Tlhis  message 
was  uttered'  in  the  presence  of  Dimitt,  who  as  soon  ■as  he 
saw  that  he  was  umobserved,  took  a  large  dose  of  morphine 
which  caused  his  death.    Yoakum  says:     "Thus  fell  a  noble 

i^Anny  Archives. 


BORBBfi  WAB«  OF  TEXAS.  367 

spirit  by  whom  the  first  Lone  Star  baim^r  wae  unfurkd  <m 
the  heights  of  La  Bahiai." 


CAPTAIN  ERATH'S   FIGHT. 

Capt.  Gieorgie  B.  Erath,  of  the  Milam  County  Minute 
Men,  writing  froan  Fort  Bryant  August  12,  1841,  to  the  Secre- 
tary Off  Wiar,  saye:  ** Agreeable',  to  appointment  madiC'  with 
Capt.  Ohanidleir,  from  Milam  co-unty,  I  met  the  Robertsop 
Coointy  Comipany  on^  the  26th  of  July,  1841,  at  the  loinie  vil- 
lage om'  the  Brazos,  and  were  also  joined  by  Maj.  Lewis,  Mr. 
Arejher,  Mr.  Landens,  and  several  other  gentlemen  from  Aus- 
tin. Captain  Chandler  took  conmiand  iby  consemt  of  part- 
ies and)  we  proceeded  slowly  up  ;thie  Brazos,  having  to  con- 
tend and'  tarry  with  siekness  diaUy.  We  passed'  several  eva- 
eu'ated  towns  of  the  enemy  in  the  e(ros&-tijnbers  and  out  spies 
used  every  exexitiofQ  to  f  errert;  out  the  giraed  villa^,  but  with 
out  siuceess.  On.  tbe  3rd,  of  August,  being  eneamped  in  the 
■apper  edge  of  the  cross-timibers  and  amixiously  waiting  the  re- 
turn' o*f  oaw  spies  to  commenice  retrogradie  nnoveme'nts,  ooir 
provisions  being  exhausted,  a  few  Indians  made  their 
appearancie  about  caanp.  I  was  detached,  with  twenty  men, 
im  piursuiit;  and  in  seancih  of  the  trail,  divided  my  party, 
leaving  some  men  with  Capt.  Love  of  Robertson  county  on 
tftie  left.  My  men,  in  the  meantime  diseoveredi  -the  trail,  and 
I  pushed  hard  on  the  same,  w*he.n  I  was  fired  upon  by  a 
party  of  Kickapoos,  or  Cherokeets,  from  behind  a  cliff  of 
roek(S  whioh  secured  the  enemy  completely,  being  only  on  one 
•ide  possible  to  aiscend  it  wit^  the  utmost  difficulty;  which 
passage  was  defended  bravely  by  the  rifles  of  the  enemy. 
Their  Tirst  fire  killed  one  of  my  men,  Capt.  A.  J.  Smith  of 
Milam  county,  and  several  balls  grazed  others  without  in- 
jury. I  formed  in  a  little  grove  of  timber  and  retui-ned  the 
fire,  whicih  was  'ke-pi  up  for  half  an  hour,  during  which  time 
i/t  is  thought  that  we  killed  two  Indians  and,  peo-haps, 
wounded  others.  At  that  time  Capt.  Love  arrived,  and 
another  re-enforcement  came  up  froan  camp.  A  charge  was 
then  mjadte  'and'  tlie  bluff  carried.     The     Indiaais     left     the 


368  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

ground  carrying  tiheir  dead.  The  mountainoxis  situation  of 
the  coumtry  omade  puTSuit  impracticabLe ;  and  after  bury- 
.ing  our  dead  man,  we  commene-ed  ouir  r.6turn  through  the 
cross- timbers.  The  7th  of  August  I  separated  my  company 
fcom  Capt.  Chandler's  amd  returned  to  'the  settlem'ents  by 
way  of  the  Bosque,  finding  no  sigm  of  the  enemy  on  our  re- 
turn. We  still  feel  convinoed  (that  a,  sbrooig  village  exists 
on  the  Brazos,  but  that  only  a  well  fitted  campaign  can-  cap- 
ture it. 

T'he  (toils  and  sufferings  of  tbe  company  were  greater 
than  usual,  and  itbe  penseverance  and  vigilance  of  the  meai 
highly  commjendable  *  *  *  ." 

The  general  election  of  the  Republic  occurred'  Sept.  6, 
1841,  and  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Gen.  Sam  Hoouston  as  Pres- 
ident by  a  vote  of  nearly  two  to  one  over  his  opponent,  Da- 
vid G.  Burnet,  .and  of  Gen.  Edward  Burleson  as  Vice-Presi- 
dent by  a  large  majority  over  Memucan  Hunt. 

Col.  Martin  FVanoi&co  Peraza,  as  envoy  of  Yucatan,  ar- 
rived in  Austin  September  11,  to  solicit  for  bis  coduotry  na- 
val aidi  from  Texas.  Tlhis  was  granted  after  the  Seoretafry 
of  State  received  from  John  D.  Morris  amd  C.  Viam.  Ness,  oom- 
missaoners  who  had  been  eent  to  Gen.  Arista,  a  communica- 
tion stating  the  result  of  their  mission  and  that  no  agreement 
had  been  entered  into  that  rendered  improper  the  granting 
of  such  aid.* 


DEATH  OF     MAJOR  HEARD. 

In  August  of  this  year  a  company  of  eight  "minute 
men,"  cotiisisting  of  John  Kern'ar,  Charles  Sevier,  Gilbert 
II.  Love,  JcJm  Bardister,  Thomas  Sypert,  William  McGraw, 
and  Thomas  Dromgoole,  led  by  Maj.  He'ard,  left  Old  Frank- 
lin for  a  scout  up  the  country.  Tiiiey  left  on  a  rainy  day 
afternoon  and  followtd  the  trftil  leading  towards  Parker's 
Fort.     Early  next  day,  wlien  about     fourteen     miles     from 

*Yoakum  is  mistaken  in  asserting  that  the  neg-otiation  with  Peraza  was  effected 
while  Arista's  "peace  envoy"  was  in  Texas  and  that  this  circumstance  and  the  Santa  Fe 
expedition  were  responsible  for  the  continuance  of  border  warfare,  murders,  robberies,  etc. 


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BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  369 

Frankliai,  while  riding  in  single  file  and  passing  a  couple  o-f 
deep  ravines,  near  their  junction,  about  eighteen  Indiiaais 
rose  from  under  the  bank  of  the  one  parallel  to  the  trail,  and 
only  thinty  or  forty  yards  distant,  and  fired  on  them,  com- 
pletely surprising  the  party.  Major  Heard,  riding  in  fnont, 
fell  dead  from  his  horse,  pierced  by  three  balls.  Some  of 
the  men  retreated  a  short  distance  and  halted,  otheir.s  dis^ 
mounted  near  by,  and  Love  stood  by  the  dead  body  to  pre- 
vent its  being  scalped,  but  was  soon  compelled  to  join-  the 
others,  all  of  whom  rallied  togetlier.  Love  lost  his  mule, 
but  succeeded  in  mounting  the  dead  man's  horse,  and  aftea* 
some  skirmishing  the  seven  men  returned  to  Franklin,  when 
a  party  went  out  and  carried  in  for  burial  the  dead  body 
which  had  been  scalped,  the  head  and  hands  cut  off,  a/ud 
otherwise  mutilated.* 

The  Indians  were  pursued  for  several  day®  by  a  party 
composed  of  John  Kerner,  William  M.  Love,  Gilbert  H. 
Love,  William  McGraw  and  a  number  of  otliers,  but  they 
failed  to  overtake  them. 


John  Wahrenbergeir,  employed  as  a  gardener  by  CoL 
Louis  T.  Gook,  was  attacked  at  night  in  the  fall  of  1841  by 
Indians  while  he  was'  carrying  a  sack  of  meal  £rom  the  mill 
near  the  edge  of  town,  to  the  home  of  his  employer  in  Aus- 
tin. He  ran  for  his  life,  but  held  on  to  his  burden, 
'Which  was  a  fartunate  ciroumstaaice,  as  siome  of  the  arrows 
shot  at  him  by  the  purisuing  Indians  struck  and  stuck  in 
the  sack  of  meal,  only  one  hitting  him,  making  a  slight  wound 
in  the  arm.  He  fell  breathless  in  the  doorway  of  Col.  Cook's 
house.  Cook  fired  on  the  Indians,  bringimg  one  of  them  to 
tile  ground.  This  halted  them.  As  soon  as  they  could  rally 
they  picked  up  their  wounded  companiioin  and  ran  for  cov- 
er. The  marauders  were  pursued  the  next  day,  but  were 
not  evertakem. 

In  the  fall  of  1841  Captain  Jack  Hays  and  his  rangers 
were     attacked    by,    but  defeated     with     great     slaughter, 

♦  Heard'a  Prairie  in  Robertson  county  perpetuates  the  name  of  this  worthy  pioneer. 


370  BORDER  WAR.S  OF  TEXA?-,. 

a  large  force  oJt'  Comanicbes  at  the  "Enchanted  Rock,"  in 
Gillespie  county.  During  the  action,  Capt.  Hays  became 
separated  from  his  men,  but  took  position  on  the  summit 
ol  a  mass  of  broken,  lava-like  rocks,  that  slopied  Siteeply 
down,  iai  every  diirection. 

The  savages  swarmed  up  the  escarpmenit,  in  mad  en- 
deavor tO'  kill  him  and  tiake  his  scalp.  He  sihoit  them  fast- 
er than  they  ©ould  asoendi.  The  fortunes  of  the  day  went 
equally  ill  with  them  in  other  parts  of  the  field,  anjd  at  last 
they  were  forced  into  rout  and  retreated,  uttering  liowls 
of  defeat. 


Tine  sixth  Congress  convened  at  Austin,  Nov.  1,  1841. 
President  Houston  and  Vice-President  Burleson  were  inaug- 
urated December  13. 

President  Houston's  assertions  that  Lamar's  Indiaoi  pol- 
icy had  resulted  in  faikure  and  that  millions  of  dollars  had 
been  wasted  in  useless  esijenditures,  were  due  to  misappre- 
hension of  facts.  However,  the  pacific  policy  pursued  by 
President  Houston  during  his  first  administration  (as  the 
first  constiitutionial  president  of  the  Republic)  did  not  secure 
peace  for  the  frontier,  and  left  at  its  close  the  greater  part 
of  Texas  in  the  possession  of  .hostile,  bloodthirsty  and  exul- 
tant savages. 

The  Cherokees  entrenched  in  the  east,  and  the  Cloman- 
ches,  lords  of  tbe  west,  afforded  the  J\Iexican  government  op- 
portunity and  means  to  plot  and  wreak  vengeance  on  the 
people  of  Texas,  and  retarded  the  settlement  and  develop- 
ment of  the  country,  vv^hich  Lamar  removed.  He  expelled  the 
Cherokees,  broke  the  power  of  the  Comanches,  ren- 
dered impossible  serious  co-^operation  of  the  Indians  with 
Mexico  in  any  plan  of  invasion  and  attempted  conquest,  and 
prevented  Indian  depredations  and  murders  ever  recurring 
on  S.0  large  a  scale  and  over  such  a  wide  extent  of  territory 
as  in  former  years.  Ill-timed  and  profitless  as  the  Santa  Fe 
expedition  appeared  to  be  at  the  time  it  occurred,  it  made 
Texas'  claim  to  its  "northwestern  territory"  sufficiently 
good  for  the  state  to  obtain  for  its  relinquishmen/t  in    1850, 


fiOKDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  371 

$10,000,000  from  tbe  United  States  government.  The  finan- 
cial eoat  of  tlie  expedition  was  less  than  $80,000.  The 
greatest  ec&t  wa&  the  loss  of  so  many  noble  lives. 
It  is  pleasing  ito  reflect,  however,  that  the  men  who'  fell 
perished  nott  in  vain.  T'be  large  increase  in  the  public  debt, 
deplored  in  the  message  did  not  in  the  end  amount  to  much. 
The  debt  was  scaled  to  a  fraction  of  its  nominal  total  and 
was  discharged  by  other  millions  of  money  paid  to  Texas, 
after  annexation,  by  the  United  States,  and  not  by  taxes 
wrung  from  the  pople.  The  gains  obtained  were  enormous, 
and  would  bave  been  fully  compensatory  if  they  had  repre- 
sented returns  for  actual  dollaTs  contributed  in  part  by  the 
Teixauii  of  tliat  day,  and  in  part  by  their  succe-ssors. 

Perhaps,  after  all,  the  aggressive  Indian  policy  of  Lamar 
was  of  imperative  necessity  at  tflie  period  of  his  administra- 
tion. There  were  at  least  extenuating  circumstances  and  con- 
ditions, and  much  of  public  sentiment  brought  to  bear  upon 
him.  But  the  genius  and  policies  of  Houston  met  emergen- 
cies that  could  have  been  moulded  tof  advantage  by  no  otlher 
means  and  manner.  Each  was  a.  good  and  great  man,  and 
each  labored  bravely  and  conscientiously  for  what  he  be- 
lieved to  be  fo'r  the  good  of  his  countrymen. 

The  patriotic  Texan  of  the  present  day— unbiased  by  the 
jealousies,  animosities  and  polities  of  the  past  and  viewing 
the  men  and  measures  of  old  in  the  clear  light  of  accom- 
plisihed  results — finds  much  to  applaud,  and  little  to  censure 
in  the  administration  of  Lamar,  and  ean  say  truly  those  meas- 
ures for  which  he  was  most  criticised,  brought  the  largest 
benefits  to  Texas  and  will  longest  preserve  bis  fame  and  keep 
aglow  the  gratitude  of  posterity. 

By  the  failure  of  Gren.  Hamilton  to  negotiateia  $5,000,000 
loan  for  Texas  in  Europe,  Lamar  was  saved  from  a  great  fol- 
ly that  be  wouHd  probably  bave  committed,  viz :  the  invasion 
of  Mexieoi  witb  a  Texas  army.  Diplomacy,  result- 
ing in  later  years  in  annexation,  aex^omplLshed  with- 
out cost  and  bloiodsbed,  what  any  Texas  army  that  could 
have  be:en  mamlialled  and  supported  witb  such  a  loan,  would 
bave  failed  to  attain.     Tbe  loan  is    said    to    bave  been  die- 


372  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

feated!  by  the  influenjce  of  Saligny,  the  F'rench  iomniister  to 
Texas.  One  of  his  servants  killod  a  hog  helonging  to  Bul- 
lock, a  hotel  keeper  at  Austin.  The  boniface  thras'hed^  the 
hostler  and  afterwards  insulted  and  threatened  Saligny, 
who  demanded  of,  and  failed  to  slecure  from  the  Texas  gov- 
ernment, the  redress  to  which  he  considered  himself  entitled. 
His  brother-in-law,  M.  Human,  th-e  Frenich  minister  of 
finan'ce,  was  instrumental  in  having  the  banking  firm,  Lafitte 
&  Co.,  of  Paris,  abruptly  drop  tihe  loan  after  they  had  led 
Gen.  Hamilton  to  believe  they  would  place  it.  The  diffi- 
culty witlh  Saligny  was  adjusted  after  Gren.  Houston  suc- 
ceeded to  the  presidency,  and  the  French  minister  returned 
to  his  post.  Saligny  always  stoutly  denied  that  he  took  any 
action  that  contributed  to  the  defeat  of  tlhe  loan.  Whether 
he  did,  or  did'  not,  is  immaterial.  The  fact  remains  tihat  fail 
urc  to  obtain  the  money  was  a  genuine  blessing,  though  dis- 
guised as  a  calamity  at  the  time. 


An  Early  Type  of  Revolver, 


CHAPTER  XV. 


LANCING  over  tlie  hiistory  'O'f  the  laist  yeiairis 
of  tbe  Texias  Republic,  one  finds  many  stir- 
ring' events  aad  tragic  episodes  transpiring — 
as  the'  ill-staTred  Samta  Fe  expeditioai  dur- 
^^^       in/g  tlie  latter  half  Of  1841;  the  dual  Mexii- 

Ej^Br^^  ^^  can  iinvasiom  oif  Tiexas  aind  capture  of  Sam 
_1.  m.-w^  mSI^^  Antonio,  first  by  the  forces  Hinder  Viasquez, 
and  second,  those  led  by  GiemeTal  "Woll,  in 
the  spring  aSnd  summer  of  1842,  leading  up 
to  the  battle  otf  Salad'O  and  the  horrible 
Da/WDOE  massacre,  atod  the  sad  sequence,  the  ]\Iier  expedaticin, 
■the  break  at  Saladio,  "lottery  of  deatli,"  aod  castle  Pejrote; 
the  "Archive  War,"  resulting  fromi  Priesid'ent  Houstoln's  ^at- 
tempt to  reon'Ove  the  records  from  the  -exposed  and  recemitly 
(1839)  seleicted  seat  of  g-oveirmm'ent  at  Austin,  ita  December, 
1842;  the  celebrated  Snivel^'  expeditiom  amd  its  deplorable, 
shamefid,  failure;  the  bloody  and  fearfail  vendietta  or  feud 
kino v>!n  to  history'  as  the  "W air  of  the  Reguiatcrs  and  Mod- 
■eirato'iis,"  and  which  ragec"  with  fearful  viol ence  in  the  east- 
ealn  part  of  the  Republic  for  nearly  three  years,  quelled 
finally  per  force  of  goveirinment  arms,  in  1844;  and  other 
momentous  haippenings.  'Twas  imideied  a  swift  moiving  pe- 
riiod  of  fiery  history  makinig.  But  lof  these,  and  such  mat- 
ters, it  is  not  our  piurpose  to  narrate  in  this  cO(nn.ection. 
Other  iracidents  and  equally  thrilling  affaiirs  now  engage 
our  attention. 


374  ^u);;j»:i,■    WAK.s  oi^'  'iEXAtt. 

At  the  general  erectk)in,  Sept.  6,  1841,  Gen.  Sam  Hions- 
tool  w,ais  ichlose'n  by  a  large  majority  for  a  second  term'  as 
President  of  the  Repuhlie,  with  Gen.  Ed.  Burlesion,  as  Vice 
Presidemt,.  Both  were  tried  soldiers  and  patriots,  and  able 
statesman — a  moat  fortunate  .circumstance  for  Teixas  at 
that  'Criti'cal  period.  Tlie  Republic  was  then  laboring  in  a 
sea  of  difficulties  that  many  believed  no  one,  save  "Old 
Sam"  HoustiCm,  conld  safely  guide  it  over.  All  had  conii- 
dein-ce  vn  his  great  and  directi ny:  mind,  and  his;  triurapiiant 
electiio-n  and  vigo^-ous  haodlimg  of  the  reinis  'Of  government 
was  joyiously  hailed  with  general  satMactiooi  throughout th€ 
country . 


PEACE  OR  WAE. 

It  is  (DOt  O'ur  wish  to  disc'U3.s  the  political  issuee  of  that 
day  and  time,  nor  to  voice  opiniotn  regardimg  the  opposing 
policies  advocated  relative  to  dealing  with  and  treating  th^ 
various  Indian  tribes  yet,  formidable  and  hostile,  residing 
in  the  Republic.  Houston's  predecessor,  President  Lamar, 
believed  that  vigorous  war  .sihould  be  waged  until  all  the 
tribeis,  both  mativie  amd  migrated,  sh'Culd  be  exterminated 
ot  subdued.  His  favorite  silo g an,  as  sio  tersely  expressed  by 
acting  Preisidenrti  David  G.  Bumet,  being  "Let  the  siword  do 
its  wiork."  And,  in  aecor dance  witJi  this  idea  Lamiar  had 
■eraicionraged  expeditioms  amd  sent  forces  aigain'Sit  the  wild 
tribes  and  all  other  Indians,  inflicting  chastisement  at  every 
opportunity,  and  hence,  when  Houston  again  came  into  office 
be  found  the  Indians  esoeedingly  hostile  and  vengeful' — "the 
wbole  frontier  lit  up  with  .tbe  flames  of  fierce  and  savage 
vrarfare." 

Houiston's  policy  for  dealing  with  the  savages  was  exact- 
ly tlie  reverse  of  Lamar's.  He  uniformly  and  ever  favored 
a  peace  policy,  the  forming  of  peace-treaties  amid  the  dis- 
bursement of  presents,  talkis,  etc.,  to  conciliate  and  pacify 
tli'C  wild  men.  "On  thia  policy  (says  John  Henry  Brown)  the 
country  waa  divided  in  opinion,  and  the  question  was  often 
disicnssed  with  more  or  less  bitteomesis.      Nothing    oould    be 


BOliDEix    vVAKS  OK  Ti'JXAS.  375 

more  oaiatu'ral,  respeicti'nig  la  pjolicy  aff.ectmg  so  deeply  tbe 
property  and  liveis  of  tihie  frontier  people,  who  were  so^  great- 
ly exposed  to  th.e  a-iaddis  of  the  bostilcs,  amd  had  littlle  or  no 
faitJi  in  theiir  fideliity  to  treaty  stipuliaticajis ;  while  the  Presi- 
dciJD.t,  <realizia3ig  the  isparsity  of  picipula-tLcm.  and  feebkne&s  im 
reSouT'Ocs  lof  ihe  gov-eraami^emt  and  the  lennntxy,  hoped  to  brin.g 
about  la  gelnexal  leessatioai  of  h  oist.il iti.<^^s,  establish  a  lime  c  f  d€- 
markation  between  the  whites  and  Iindiainis,  and  by  establish- 
ing along  the  same  a  line  of  tradioag  houses,  to  pii-omiote 
firieaidly  traffic,  with  occasional  presents  by  the  goverm- 
memt,  to  eoutrol  the  wiM  men  and  preseTve  the  lives  lof  the 
people.  It  'was  a  policy  in  keepimig  with  his  higih  chatracter 
as  a  wise  amid  faitlhfuil  guardian  of  the  lires  of  the  people. 
The  laek  oif  cooi'fideaiC'e  by  many  in  the  fidelity  otf  the  tribes 
•was  tno  reasoin  why  tiie  eiffont,  so  fraught  with  ^od,  should 
not  be  made." 


HOUSTON'S  INDIAN  TALKS. 

Houetom's  letters  and  repo<rted  talk«  to  the  ired  men  gio 
to  show  ii;e  umderstood  their  eharacter,  their  seoitimeflits  and 
semsibilitieis,  andi  the  easit  oif  their  miinds  perfectly,  as  weOi 
as  the  thoughts  and  modes  ^of  expreissiom  best  caleulaAed  to 
affect  them  favoiraibly,  and  there  can  -be  no  doubt  but  that 
PresideiDJt  Houston  wielded  an  influeoicef  and  did  much  to 
reccmcile  amd  keep  the  Indiane  in  subj,ection,  and  tlius  en- 
abled thei  settlers  to  push  forward  and  gain  a  more  substan- 
tial hold.  "Wlien  Houston  would  treat  with  the  hostiles  and 
dissuade  them  dorom  the  warpath  he  w^roite:  "The  red  broth- 
ers all  know  tJiat  my  woirds  to  tliiem  have  nefver  been  for- 
gotten by  me.  They  have  never  been  swallowed  up  by 
darkness,  n'Otr  has  the  light  of  the  sun  consumed  tliem. 
Truth  caamot  perish,  but  the  words  of  la  liar  are  as  nothing, 
I  wish  yiou  to  come,  and  we  will  again  shake  hands  and 
counsel  together.  Bring  other  chiefs  with  you.  Talk  to  all 
the  red  men  to  make  peace.  War  cannot  make  them  happy. 
It  has  lasted  too  long.  Let  it  mow  be  ended  and  cease  for- 
ever.    Tell  all  my  red  brothers  to  listen  to  my  oommunica- 


376  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS 

tio'iiis,  and  to  walk  by  the  words  of  my  ooumcil.  If  they  heiar 
me  and  beep  my  words,  their  homeis  shiall  be  happy;  th^ek" 
fires  shall  burn  brightly  and)  t;he  pipe  of  peace  shall  be  hand- 
ed around  the  hearth  of  their  wigwams.  The  tomahawk  shall 
Hio  myore  he  raised  in  w-air,  ntotr  shall  the  dog  howl  f'Oir  the 
master  who  has  been  slain  in  battle ;  joy  shall  take  the  place 
of  soDro'w;  .a|nd  the  laughter  of  your  children  shall  be  heard 
in  place  of  the  cries  of  your  wo'men." 

These  "talks"  or  letters  make  interesting  reading  even 
at  this  far  time,  and  they  clearly  illustrate  the  policy  Hous- 
ton^ was  wonit  tO'  pursue,  besides  giving  a  glimpse  of  af fairs 
and  cotnditio'ns  along  the  boffder,  as  well  as  the  embittered 
feelings  the'U  existing  between,  the  whitesi  and  Itmdians. 
Mark  the  simple,  yet  beautiful,  and  even  lofty,  style,  so 
suited  tioi  the  uiitutoired  /mjindis  of  the  red  men.  The  Indians 
loved  and  confided  in  Housiton,  and  in  iret'urn,  Houston  nev- 
er betray ed  .a  trust,  nor  foirgot  the  welfare  of,  his  forest 
friends. 

An  incideint  transpired  that  shocked  him  greatly,  amd 
that  a'aised  up  bitter  and  revengeful  enemies  for  the  whites, 
viz;  the  killing  of  the  cellebirated  Lapan  chieftain,  Flaco. 
The  Li  pans  had  always  beeiu  friends  of  the  'white  people, 
and  had  acted  as  scouts  and  guideis  .sidie  by  side  with  them. 
Flaco  had  charged  often  with  ITaye  amd  other  frontier  lead- 
ers, had  displayed  signal  wisdom,  good  feeling  attid  gallantry 
on  many  oiociasionis,,  and  was  worthy  of  the  highest  esteem  in 
which  he  was  geaietrally  held.  He  was  killed,  it  was  claimed, 
by  a  party  of  white  men  who  mistook  his  identity,  and  act- 
ed with  inexcusable  haste.  The  Lipans  denounced  the  act  as 
murder,  and  joined  the  wild  prairie  tribes.  Houston  sought 
in  vain  to  console  and  placate  them  by  the  following  letter, 
written  to  Flaco 's  father: 

Executive  Department,  Washington,  March  28,  1843. 
Toi  the  Memory  of  Gen.  Flaco,  Chief  of  Lipans. 

]\Iy  Brother:  My  heart  is  sad.  A  dairk  clond  restis  up- 
0(n  your  nation).  Grief  has  sounded  in  your  camp.  The 
voice  of  Flaco  is  silent.     His  words  are  not  heard  in  coam- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS  377 

cil.  The  chief  is  no  more.  His  life  has  fled  to  the  "Great 
Spirit,"  His  eyes  are  closed.  His  heart  ido  longer  leaps  at 
the  sight  O'f  the  biuffalo.  The  vo-ices  of  your  ciatmp  are  no 
longer  heard  to  cry:  "Flaco'  hais  returned  from  the  cliase!" 
Your  chiefs  look  down  upon  the  earth  and  groan  in  trouble. 
Yooir  waiTrioT®  weep' — the  looid  voices  otf  grief  are  hearid 
from  yO'U.r  women  and  chiMren.  The  songs  ol  the  birds  are 
silent.  The  ears  of  your  peo'ple  hear  noi  pleasant  sounds. 
Soirrow  whispers  in  the  winds.  The  noise  of  the  tempest 
passes;  it  is  not  heard.  Your  hearts  aire  heavy.  The  name 
of  Flaeoi  brooight  joy  to  all  hearts.  Joy  was  on,  every  face. 
Your  people  were  happy.  Flacoi  i<s  no  longer  seen  in  the 
fight.  His  voice  is  noi  long-er  heard  in  the  battle.  The  en- 
emy nq  loingeff"  make  a  patli  for  his  glory.  His  valor  is  no 
longer  a  guard  for  your  people.  The  right  anm  of  youir  na- 
tion is  broken.  Flaicoi  was  a  friend  to  the  white  broithers. 
They  will  not  foirget  liim.  They  wiill  leonembier  the  red  war- 
rior. His  father  willl  not  be  forgotten.  We  will  biC  kind  to 
the  Lipans.  Grass  Bhall  not  grow  dn  the  path  between  us, 
L«t  your  wise  men  give  the  council  of  peace.  bet  yomr 
young  men  walk  in  the  white  path.  The  gray-headed  men 
oif  yonr  nation  will  teach  wisdoan.  I  wdH  hold  mj'  red 
brother  by  the  hand      Thy  brother, 

Samj  Hoiuston., 


HOUSTON'S  INDIAN    POW    WOW. 

A  contemporary  writer*  and  eye-witness,  thus  grapki- 
cally  ideS'CnibeB  one  of  the  President's  Indian  pow  wows, 
which  occurred  at  tlie  capital.  The  scenes  anid  ineidentis  de- 
scribed will  never  be  re-eniactedi — the  picture  is  of  a  scene 
forever  past : 

"It  was  in  the  early  suimuiei*  of  Mie  yrav  ^S4A,  )>efore 
th,e  close  of  Presiident  Houston's  secoiid  term,  that  an  In- 
dian oonncil  was  held  at  Wiajshington,  aboait  three  quarters 
o/f  a  mile  froani  the  village  center.     Upoai     invitation       some 

♦Veteran  Frank  Brown,  yet  (1912)  living. 


378  ,    BORDEK  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

fifty  GIT  niar.e  Incliian  braves  with  their  woinDen  aind  cliildrein-, 
aigigregiating-  a  humdred  cir  m-oa'e,  eaane  in  a  'body.  A  grove 
wag  seleetad,  in  which  tihej  were  diireeted  to  camp.  Their 
teaits  were  erec'tteid  of  buffalo  skins.  They  brotught  in  homey, 
beiaip  oil,  aoid'  meiats  'of  wild  animals.  The  presidcm't  caaisied 
them  to  be  furaiisliied  with  corn  for  bread  and  hoiniiny,  and 
Ife-cl',  as  needed.  They  were  preseoi'ted  ^^^lth  blank^etis  and 
oithe'r  -useful  articles,  inciuding  trimke'ts.  Tlieir  poini'eis  vp&re 
pastured  on  tJie  rich  grass.    The  range  was  open. 

"ExAiibitions  of  skill  with  bow  aaid  arrow,  Lanice  and  toim- 
ahawk,  were  given,  Grames  were  indulged  in,  Imdiains  and' 
wliites  freely  mingled.  The  red  men  were  in  tlie  village  near- 
ly every  ciay  parading  t'he  sto^eets  and  visiting  thie  whiites  at 
their  plactis  of  businesis  and  diveliiin.g6.  They  were  often  in- 
vited to  the  tables  of  tlie  w^hite  folkis,  wh/ere  they  sat  down 
and  atiC  heaj'tily.  Their  table  majiners  were  extremely  awk- 
wairid.  It  v/ifiiS  .aim'using  to  see  an  Indiam  with  a  piece  of 
bread  iin  hand.,  at  the  samie  time  holding  a  fork  in  the  same 
hand.  In  eonveying  the  bread  to  his  moutih  he  was  like- 
ly to  stick  the  prongs  in  hia  eyes.  After  meals^  all  hands 
sat  itn  the  sluadte  and  Bmoked  the  pipe.  It  was  customary,  as 
an  act  of  frienidsliip  and  courtesy,  for  the  same  pipe  to'  be 
used  by  both  whites  and  red  metn.  It  required  a  stomach 
for  the  av.e>rage  white  mian  to  conform.  Tliie  pipe  was  filled 
with  a  preparation  of  mixed  tobacco  and  sumaeih'  leaves, 
called  killikinick. 

"At  night  the  whites  were  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  In- 
dian camjp  to  see  theio"  amusenLemts.  These  consisted  of 
gaanes  'anid  dances  aftr-r  the  Indian  fashioai.  Their  d'ancing 
is  difficult  to  idescnibe.  Thie  men  anidi  women  did  mot  dance 
together  as  we  do.  Tine  men  would  focrm  a  circle  and  dance 
to  the  right  iu'  a  forward  manner,  after  a  rude  fashioai.  Af- 
ter the  men  were  through  they  left  the  ring,  when  tho  womer 
took  their  places.  lausttead  of  danicding  in  a  forward  way,  as 
did  the  men,  they  advanced  to  the  right  sidewayis,  all  in  a  cir- 
cle. There  was  litttle  or  mo  grace  in  the  movements  of  either. 
The  music  consisted  of  a  drum,  made  from  a  dried  deer  skim. 


BORDEK  WAKS  OF  TEXAS.  379 

tigMly  Sitreitched  ovier  a  stout  ho'op,  and  a  ^eascned  Spanisli 
gourd'  with  the  dry  seed'  crattlinig  in  it  whefli  sliafcen. 

"A  day  was  se^t  tor  the  ccunoil.  In  th-e  forencotn  Pr.esi- 
demt  Housto.:. ,  with  his  cat^inet  officens,  went  toi  the  eaonp. 
They  wecre  neatly  dr.essed  as  becanne  t.he  odcasiiom.  Pr-esident 
Hou&tO'n  som'etiini'es  aff eot^d  a  rather  gaudy  style — be  fre- 
q^iieinitly  wore  u  vest  made  from  spotted  leopard  skin.  The  red 
chdefe  and  theiir  leading  mtin  w-er-e  piaint'ed  in  gorgeous 
colors,  theiiir'  heads  adorned  with  large  featberis,  the  leggimgs 
with  iheads  and  painted  detsigus.  A  council  fii-c  was 
lighted  in  the  center  oif  a  »pace  cleared  for  the  purpose.  The 
presid-eint  mid  his  cabinet  officeTS  occupied  oue  side  of  the 
council  ground,  fiittimg  iu  a  sort  of  half  circle.  The  Indiana 
occupied  the  opposite  side,  alBO  sitting  in  a  balf  circle,  facing 
the  Whites.  All  &at  on  buffalo  ro(bes  giprcad  on  the  ground. 
Spectators  consisting  of  white  men,  women  amd  children, 
with  the  red  men  not  of  the  council,  their  women  and  child- 
ren, sua*rounded  the  councilmen.  In  a  ehort  time  after  the 
conference  met  a  large  pipe,  with  a  long  stem,  duly  orna- 
mented and  filled  with  killikimick,  was  lighted.  President 
Houston  took  the  pipe,  dreivv  two  or  three  wbiffs  in  a  delib- 
erate manner,  and  then  handed  it  to  the  fiaist  chief  on  the 
left  of  the  half  circle  of  red  men.  This  chief  placed  the 
stem  in  hiiiS  mouth,  slowly  drew  two  whiffs,  and  then  handed 
it  to  his  ruearest  neighbor  on  the  ri^ht.  In  this  manner  the 
entire  circle  of  coumcilmen,  Indians  and  whites,  partook  of 
the  pipe. 

"ALfter  the  smoke  was  finished,  the  president  arose,  and 
through  an  interpreter  made  a  talk  toi  the  red  chiefs.  But 
few  Indians  could  umd'erstanid  English;  nearly  ail  of  them 
spoke  Spanish.  The  president,  from  his  long  association  with 
Indians  and  intimate  knowledge  of  their  views  and  preju- 
dices, knew  how  to  address  them.  Nearly  eyeary  time  a  sen- 
tence was  translated  the  chiefs  would  utter  a  grunt  of  aj)- 
proval.  At  the  conclusion  of  Bresidenat  Houston's  address 
the  chiefs  were  invited  to  .talk.  Some  of  thetm  did  so.  The 
ceremocriea  lasted  quite  a  while.     At     the     conclusion     the 


380  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

coumcil  formally  aidjorurjied  with  giood  f&elijig  on  boith  sides. 
"Tihe  Indians  remained  some  thiricte  or  four  w&eks.  Tih«y 
finally  'bpokie  camp,  packed  their  effedts  Oin  ho^rsieis,  mounted 
their  ponies  and  departed  on  a  west  course.  In  a  day  or  two 
'they  wesre  beyooid  the  white  seittlemjenits." 


HOUSTON'S  INDIAN  TREATY. 

In  September  1843,  the  President,  through  his  fearless 
co'mmissioners,  Captadois  Eidrid{gie,  Torry  and  Bee,  effected  a 
peace  tireaty  with  tilie  Waoos,  Anadarkos,  Towash,  Caddos, 
Keechies,  Wichitas,  Tehuacanas,  lonies,  Beedies,  Delawares, 
Biloxi,  and  other  small  tribes,  dnclujdi'nig  a  band  of  thirty 
Gherokces,  'who  had  assiembled  ait  a  desigmated  poiinit  om  the 
Trinity,  niow  in  Wis.e  cofumty,  KeeoM-ko-so-qua  head  chief  of 
the  Tehuacanas,  was  the  leader  and  most  influential  Indian 
in  the  council.  In  council  a  boundary  line  was  discussed  and 
finally  aga-ieedi  upon  betiween  the  whites  amd  the  Indians, 
along  whicili  trading  hoiuses  wer.e  toi  be  established — one  at 
the  mouth  0(f  the  clear  fork  of  the  Trtinity  (Font  Worth),  one 
at  Gomiamche  Peak  (Hood  county)  on  the  Brazos  and  one  at 
Fort  San  Saba.  The  treaty  had  the  effect  i;t  is  said,  toi  al- 
lay hostiliitiies  for  a  time,  though,  of  coursie,  the  boiundary 
was  not  always  respected  by  either  whites  or  Indians. 

Thus,  during  his  term  of  office,  Houston  was  diligent 
a.nd  determined  in  his  efforts  to-  co'nciliate  in  some  degrC'e  at 
least,  the  incensed  savages,  and  dissuade  them  as  much  as  pos- 
sible from  sfuoh  comsitant  and*  vieangefiil  iLOstilitaes.  Noi  oppor- 
tunity in  this  direoton  was  overloioked.  Tihe  Presddent  was 
constamitly  sending  out  "talks"  and  presents  by  faithful 
commissioners  and  a'c:ent.s,  m  ho;  viisited  the  Indians  in  their 
own  wild  hauints,  at  -gtreat  peril,  as  special  representativies ; 
and  aJwiays  inviting  the  chiefs  and  head  meai  to  vEisit  and 
council  with  The  Great  Whiite  Father — the  President — at  his 
home,  the  capital. 

Ait  the  close  of  his  term  of  office,  Houstoin  was  war- 
ranted in  sayia.g,  among  other  things,  portending  a  better 
comditiom  of  affairs  aad  brighter'  hopes  for  the    future    wel- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  381 

fare  of  the  struggling  Republic :  ' '  Our  Iai<Maai  affairs  are  in 
as  good  condition  as  the  most  sangoiiffDe  could  reasonably  have 
aaiticipa.ted  *  *  *  It  isi  not  detoiied  that  there  are  amomg  t!h0 
Imdiams,  las  annong  our  own  people,  itadivi'dJiialsi  whO'  will  dis- 
regard all  law  amd  comaniit  excesses  of  the  most  flagramt 
eluaracter;  but  it  is'  uaijust  to  attribute  to  a  tribe  or  a  body 
■of  men  disposed  to  obey  the  laws,  what  is  properly  charge- 
able to  a  few  renegades  and  despecr'adoes.  Other  governments 
of  fair  greater  resotunoes  for  imposing  restraints  upon  the 
wild  meni  of  the  forests  and  prairies,  have  mot  beem  exempt 
from  the  inifnaction  of  treaties^  and  occasional  commission  of 
acts  of  rapine  and  blood.  We  must,  therefore,  expect  to  suf- 
fer^ in  a  greater  or  lass  degree  from  the  siaane  causes.  But 
even  this,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Executive,  does  not  furnish 
overruling  testimony  a^aimst  the  poliey  whieh  hei  hias  coai- 
stantly  recommended,  and  whidh  he  has  had)  the  happiness  to 
eeie  so  fully  and  siatiisfaetorily  tested." 

ThOiUgh  a  miarkedj  difference  is  perceptible,  and  a  de- 
creiase  of  hostilitdiets'  isi  observable,  e&peicially  during  the  lat- 
ter half  of  Houston's  seeoind  term,  yet  mjany  orimes  and  de- 
predation® were  eomonitted'  iin  various  sections,  and  espe- 
cially along  the  advancing  and  exposed  line  of  frontier; 
atroicitties,  ciaptivities,  and  fierce  conflicts — ^enough  indeed 
m  vollume  to  far'  exceed  the  limits  here  ascribed.  But,  per- 
ha;ps,  one  can  tire  his  readers  with  telling  too*  much,  hofw- 
>'jver  thrilling  amd  absorhing  the  subject.  A  few  other  not- 
able .incidents  and  engagemenaits,  without  further  prefaice, 
must  suffice.  , 


DEATH  OF  CHIEF  "BIG  FOOT". 

The  following  thrilling  incident  well  illustrates  the 
trials  and  perils  of  the  pioneer  settlers  and  the  manner  and 
mode  di  border  warfare  as  carried  on  ia  Texas  at  that  pe- 
riod of  time. 

Captain  Shapley  P.  Ross,  father  of  the  late  Gen.  L.  S. 
Ross,  was  one  of  the  early,  staiinch,  pioneers  of  Texas, 
having  emigrated  from  Bentonport,   Ohio^  and  settled  near 


382  BOKDEiJ   WAKS  OF  TEXAS. 

the  present  town  of  Cameron,  Milam  county — then  a  howl- 
ing wilderness — in  1839.  Captain  Ross  was  of  powerful 
frame,  with  cool  courage  and  a  sagacity  equal  to  the  In- 
dian with  "whom  he  was  so  often  thrown  in  contact;  in 
fact  Ross  was  endowed  with  all  the  qualities  necessary  to 
the  makeup  of'  t)he  hardy  pioneer  and  successful  border 
trooper,  auid  hence  he  soon  became  a  recognized  leader  of 
thr-  whites  against  the  Comanches  and  ot|lier  hostile  tribes 
of  Indians  who  then  ruled  that  region.  Captain  Ross  lead 
his  neighbors  in  many  expeditions  against  tJie  wily  red  foes 
and  encountered  many  thrilling  adventures  and  narrow  es- 
capes. One  incident  has,  more  t|han  any  other,  made  his 
name  famous  in  the  border  annals  of  TeKas.  This  was  the 
celebrated  hand-to-hand  fight  between  Captain  Ross  and  the 
powerful  Comanche  chief,  "Big  Foot,"  which  occurred  in 
1842,  and  in  which  combat  the  famous  Indian  warrior  lost  his 
life.  The  details  of  this  celebrated  encounter  are  here  given 
substantially  as  told  by  Captain  Ross  himself. 

Captain  Ross  had  just  returned  home  from  a  business 
trip  to  the  lower  settlements,  bringing  with  him  a  fine  mare 
he  had  purchased,  the  Indians  having  stolen  all  his  other 
horses.  A  short  time  after  his  return  the  bold  and  alert 
frontiersman  heard  in  the  woods  nearby  what  an  unsophisti- 
cated person  would  have  thought  tlie  v^^hinneying  of  a  colt 
and  the  ihooting  of  owls.  But  the  quick  ear  of  Ross  soon 
detected  the  cheat,  and  he  knew  the  house  was  watched  and 
surrounded  by  savages.  He  kept  indoors  till  the  next  day, 
when  w^ord  was  conveyed  to  a  neighbor  named  Monroe,  whose 
horse  had  been  carried  off  the  night  previous  by  the  Indians. 
The  object  of  the  Comanches  in  imitating  the  whinneying  of 
a  colt  was  to  draw  the  settler  from  his  cabin  and  murder 
him.     The  ruse  did  not  work  that  time. 

The  marauding  thieves  having  hastily  fled  with  their 
booty,  it  was  determined  to  raise  as  good  a  force  as  possi- 
ble and  follow  the  Indians.  The  partj^  included  six,  one  of 
whom  was  a  young  man,  Shapley  Woolfork,  a  nephew  of 
Captain  Ross.  On  examining  the  trail,  the  settlers  readily 
recognized  the  tracks  of  the  notorious  Comanche  chief,  ''Big 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  383 

Foot,"  of  whom  'the  settlers  far  and  near  stood  in  mortal 
dread,  so  cruel  were  his  outrages.  The  little  pursuing-  com- 
pany daiSihed  forward  some  thirty  miles  in  a  drenching  rain- 
storm, which  wet  'the  powder  in  their  flintrock  rifles  and 
rendered  them  useless.  Two  of  -the  party  became  discour- 
aged and  returned,  but  Captain  Ross  and  three  determined 
companions  continued  the  pursuit. 


THE   HAND-TO-HAND  STRUGGLE. 

Suddenly,  at  a  point  known  as  "The  Knobs"  near  the 
present  town  of  Temple,  in  Bell  county,  the  Indians  were 
discovered,  having  halted  to  skin  a  buffalo  they  had  just 
shot.  The  surprise  was  apparent,  but  the  Indians  had  no 
chance  of  escape,  and  dropping  their  knives,  seized  their 
guns  and  bows  and  prepared  for  the  contest — a  most  despe- 
rate one.  The  savages  repeatedly  snapped  their  guns  but 
failed  to  fire,  their  powder  also  being  weD.  Both  parties 
now  clubbed  their  guns,  and  in  close  contact  the  battle  roy- 
al raged,  many  daring  acts  of  individual  heroism  transpir- 
ing. It  was  a  deadly  mateJi,  a  struggle  for  life  between 
fearless  red  a<nd  white  warriors,  and  for  a  time  the  issue 
was  indeed  doubtful.  Finally,  one  of  the  settlers,  Bryant, 
killed  an  Indian  with  the  butt  of  his  rifle.  Toward  the  close 
of  the  figiht.  Captain  Ross  sa.vr  Big  Foot  mounted  on  &  fine 
animal,  Monroe's  mare  he  had  stolen,  and  riding  toward  him. 
He  drew  both  his  holsters,  but  discovered  to  his  chagrin  tha.b 
the  powder  was  wet.  He  threv^-  one  of  them  at  Big  Foot's 
ihead,  but  struck  him  on  the  nhoulder.  He  was  about  deal- 
ing the  chief  a  terrific  blow  v\uth  the  but  of  his  rifle  when 
an  Indian  rode  up  close  behind  and  v/as  in  the  act  of  cleav- 
ing Ross'  head,  when  Y/oolf oik  came  to  his  uncle's  rescue  and 
quickly  dealt  a  blow  that  tumbled  the  savage  from  his  pony, 
at  the  same  time  pulling  Woolfolk  off  his  horse.  A  personal 
combat  between  the  two  was  prevented  by  the  Indian  mount- 
ing behind  Big  Foot.  The  two  Indians  dashed  off  and  at- 
tempted to  escape,  but  tliey  were  again  hotly  pursued  by 
Rose  and  his  nephew.  TJie  race  was  an  exciting  one.  On 
went  Big  Foot  and  liis  compsirdon,  whom  the  mare  bore  along 


384  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

swift  as  the  wind.  Suddenly  Viey  came  to  a  ravine  bluff. 
They  sa.w  it  too  late  to  stop  the  animal  in  her  flight,  and 
headlong  over  the  bluff  went  the  mare  and  iher  two  riders. 
They  were  soon  floundering  in  the  mire  and  water.  Quickly 
the  pursuers  dashed  up — Woolfolk  in  the  lead,  himself  dash- 
ing down  the  declivity,  alighting  between  the  two  savages. 
Ross  managed  to  Jialt  on  the  brink.  He  sprang  from  his 
mare  and  jumped  down  and  into  the  melee,  his  first  inten- 
tion being  to  separate  the  two  Indians  and  prevent  them 
from  "double  teaming"  on  his  nephew.  The  four  combat- 
ants were  now  on  the  ground  and  on  an  equal  footing,  and 
now  it  was  that  the  desperate  death  struggle  commenced. 
Big  Foot  and  Captain  Ross  regarde^d  each  other  for  an  in- 
stant. Both  knew  it  was  death  for  one  or  the  other.  Fire 
flashed  from  their  eyes.  Desperation  was  depicted  on  their 
countenances.  Tihey  drew  their  knives — bright,  keen  butcher 
blades,  which  a  hunter  always  carried.  Both  wore  moccasins, 
while  the  Comanche  chief  was  bedecked  in  full  war  paint, 
his  long  plaited  diair  hanging  far  down  his  back — he  was  in- 
deed ferocious  looking.  Captain  Ross  wore  a  slouch  hat 
and  buckskin  hunting  shirt,  with  an  old  fashioned  powder 
horn  slung  around  his  waist.  With  a  wild,  guttural  sthout 
the  chief  advanced,  knife  in  hand,  and  made  a  determined 
lunge  at  liis  powerful  white  antagonist.  The  Indian's  foot 
slipped  on  the  wet  sod  and  he  missed  Ross.  Before  he  could 
rise,  Ross  seized  Big  Foot  by  the  ihair  wth  his  left  hand, 
while  with  his  right  he  brandliahed  aind  drove  his/  knife  to 
the  heart  of  the  Indian  chief.  The  contest  was  over,-  the 
spirit  of  the  renowned  Chief  Big  Foot  winged  its  way  to  the 
"happy  hunting  grounds."  Both  combatants  sank  to  the 
ground — ^Big  Foot  in  death,  Roi^s  unnerved  and  exhausted. 
While  this  was  transpiring,  Woolfolk  was  engaging  the  oth- 
er Indian  in  a  similar  strugle,  and  finally  succeeded  in  dis- 
patching him.  After  scalping  their  victims  the  settlers  re- 
turned to  their  homes  with  the  trophies,  and  the  stO'len 
horses  recovered. 

Captain  Ross  lived  to  a  ripe  age,  dying  at  Waco,  a  few 
years  ago.     He  experienced  miany  of  the  trials  and  vicissi- 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  385 

tudes  incident  to  frontier  life,  and  participated  in  numerous 
Indian  fights,  but  this  was  his  mostt  desperate  etU'Cioninter, 
and  when  .njarrating-  th^  incident  the  old  veteran  always 
grew  serious.  It  was  a  Hfe  and  death  struggle,  amd  this  call 
was  so  close  ihe  never  jested  over  the  matter. 


FATE  OF  THE  GILLELAHD    FAMILY— CAPTITRE    AND 
EESCUB  OF  MES.  FliHEE. 

The  narrative  which  foUowia  is  one  of  the  most  instruct- 
ive, yet  pathetic,  in  all  our  Texas  history,  not  only 
because  it  is  .the  story  of  t'wo  helpless  children,  made  or- 
phans by  Comanches,  the  most  ciiiel  and  bloodthirsty  of  all 
the  Indian  tribes,  and  who  were  di*agging  them  to  a  captivi- 
ty worse  than  the  fate  their  parents  had  just  suffered  at 
their  hands,  but,  becau&e  the  story  in  its  simple,  unvar- 
nished recital  tlirows  upon  the  .great  white,  peaceful  canvas 
of  today,  a  faithful-  picture  of  the  hard'ships  and  dangers  of 
our  early  pioneeris  in  their  efforts  to  establish  homes  and 
civilization  in  Western  Texas.  Be  it  remembered,  too,  that 
this  tragedy  wa)s  enacted  six  years  after  peace  had  been  won 
at  San  Jacinto. 

We  quote  from  a  letter  written  by  A.  B.  Hai;inum,  First 
Lieutenant  Matagorda  Riflemen: 

"In  1841-42  the  Mexica^n  Government  eeoit  several  ma- 
rauding expeditions  into  "Texas,  and  in  the  latter  year  San 
Antonio  was  twice  captured  and  plundered.  In  the  spring 
of  1842  we  were  in  force  on  the  San  Antonio  River  to  repel 
a  Mexican  invasion,  when  news  came  to  us  that  the  Indians 
had  killed  a  Mr.  Gilleland  and  his  wife  at  or  near  the  Mex- 
ican village,  Don  Carlos  Ranch.  After  the  massacre  they  ev- 
idently moved  up'  the  river,  holding  two  little  white  chil- 
dren prisoners. 

"Gen.  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  then  in  commatod  of  the 
military,  and  in  camp  near  the  scene  of  the  tragedy,  called 
for  ten  men,  well  miounted,  to  reconnoiter.  With  Gen- 
eral JohnstoflOi  we  proce-eded  abofut  one  mile  be]<ow 
the     tow»n,     where     I     found     and     pointed    ooit     toi    him 


liOKDEK  WA^S  OF  TEXAS. 

ain  India'u  trail  leading  into  the  river  bottom.  Here,  after  dis- 
mounting and  making  coffee,  Gen.  Johnston  returned  to  the 
command,  leavinig  me  in  charge  of  half  a  dozen  men  aiud  fif- 
teen scouts  under  Captain  Price,  who  hsodl  joined)  ujs.  We 
soon  discoveired  the  trail  of  the  Indians  and  w«re  in  hot 
pi  nsuit.  Tihere  were  Dr.  A.  T.  Axs-om,  distinguisihed  after- 
war<is  as  piresident  of  the  Board  otf  Health  of  New  Orleans ; 
Colonel  Kerr,  purser  of  the  Texas  navy;  Dallam,  autihoir  of 
the  Digest  of  Texas  Sitatutes,  still  suh  autboritj,  also\  author 
of  the  novel,    'The  Loine  Star.' 

"Two  miles  away  in  camp  were  our  noble  ex-Piresident, 
M,  B.  Liamar,  and  the  hero  of  Shiloh,  Albert  Sidmey  John- 
siton,  and  not  far  from  tine  site  of  Fannin's  massaere. 

"The  Comanches  scattered  ond  our  yelling  men  followed, 
making  it  impoissible  for  them  to  esicape.  After  cleariiug  the 
timber,  they  formed'  in  Line  to  receive  us,  while  a  tall  old 
ehief  ran  up  and  doiwn  the  line  plnyinig  the  flute.  They  had 
evidently  counted  us  and  intended  to  give  battle. 

"Firing  commenced  when  a  gay  Indian  on  a  finely  ea- 
piarisoned  horse  presented  too  fair  a  picture  to  be  resisted, 
and  I  fired  at  liimi;  he  dropped  from  the  horse,  one  he'  had 
captured  the  day  before,  and  and  all  took  to  the  woods.  We 
fastened  our  horses  to  the  trees  and  pursued,  thinking  to 
give  them  fight  in  regular  Indian  fashion,  but  they  never 
rallied,  and  left  guns,  feathers,  shields  and  horses  behind.  We 
rescued  the  prisoners,  a  little  boy,  lanced  in  the^  side,  and  a 
pretty  little  girl  with  long,  goldeai  curls  and  eye®  so  soft,  so 
mystic;  she  was  one  of  the  politest  little  things  on  earth. 
The  little  boy,  bleeding  at  every  gasp,  was  givan  water.  Dr. 
Axsom  lay  pale  on  the  ground.  'What  is  the  matter,  Ax- 
som?'  'Oh,  that  child 'is  wound  makes  me^  sick.'  The 
case  oif  the  heading  of  the  wound  of  that  little  boy,  William 
M.  Gilleland,  was  pubilished  in  the  New  Orleans  Medical 
Journal  by  Dr.  Axsom. 

"The  little  girl  wais,  when  I  saAV  her  in  1886,  one  of  the 
handsomest  of  the  very  haoidsome  women  for  which  Texias 
is  justly  distingfuished,  and  she,  Mrs.  RebeC'Ca  J.  Fiahiex,  a 
veidtable  que^n  of  society. 


BaBDfiK  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  887 

' '  The  Gilleland  diildren  w<a?e  taken  just  a&  the  snm  was 
setting,  audi  wer«  tpesoued  the  next  momiiig,  the  Indians  trav- 
eling all  tihe  time  until  overtaken  by  the  riflemeoi. 

^ '  General  Johnston  was  in  conumand,  and  carried  Rebecea 
the  little  gixl,  from  the  Carlos  Ranch  to  the  h.ome  of  a  Pree- 
byterian  minister,  Dr.  Blain,  in  Victoria.  TJie  h^j  was  left 
belhind  under  Dr.  Axisom's  nursing  amd  my  directions." 


STORY  OF  THE  HEROINE. 

Mrs.  Fisher,  wHio  liere  tells  her  terrible  experience,  is 
at  present  (1912)  living  m  Austin.  Her  story  further  illus- 
trates the  dangeirs  of  friontier  life  in  early  Texas: 

"My  parents,  Johnstone  and  Mary  Barbour  Gillelaaid, 
were  living  in  Pennsylvaina,  surrounded  with  everythiing  to 
make  life  pleasant,  when  they  became  so  entliiusiastic  over 
the  enoouraging  reports,-  from  Texas  that  they  cionicluded  to 
join  the  excited  t.hirong  and  wend  their  way  to  this,  the  sup- 
posed 'Eldorado  of  the  West.'  They  hastily  and  at  great 
sacrifice,  sold  their  home  near  Philadelphia,  and  set  sail 
for  Galveston  with  their  three  children.  Not  being  used  to 
the  hardsihips  and  privations  of  frontier  life,  they  were  ill 
prepared  for  the  triads  ■w'lii'ch  awaited  them.  I  know  not  the 
date  of  their  arrival.  They  moved  to  Refugio  county, 
near  Don  Carlos  Ranch,  which  proved  to  be  their  last 
earthly  habitation. 

''My  father  belonged  to  Captain  Tomlinson's  company 
for  some  months,  and  when  not  in  active  warfare  was 
engaged  in  protecting  his  own  and  other  familes,  removing 
them  from  place  to  place  for  safety.  They  frequicntly  had  to 
flee  through  blinding  storms,  cold  and  hungry,  to  escape  In- 
dians and  Mexicans.  Tiie  whole  country  was  in  a  sitate  of 
excitement.  Families  were  in  constant  danger  and  had  to 
be  ready  at  any  moment  to  flee  for  tlieir  lives. 

"The  day  my  parents  were  murdered  wa,s  one  of  those 
days  which  youth  and;  odd  age  so  much  enjoy.  It  was  in 
latraixge  oonstraAt  to  th^e  tragedy  at  its  close.  We  were  only 
a  ifiew  rods  from  the  house.     Suddenly  the  warwhoop  of  the 


388  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

Oomari'ch^  burst  upon  our  ears,  s-eoa/dliilig  teTroir  to  all  heaa-t^. 
Mj  father,  in  trjing  to  reach  the  houjse  for  weapoaas,  was 
shot  <io"wii,  «fliid  neair  him  my  mother,  'clinginig  toi  hea*  •child- 
ren and  prayin^g  for  Go<i  to  sp^re  them,  waa  ateo  anurdered. 
As  she  prteewed  us  to  her  heart  we  were  baptized  in  heir  pre- 
cious blood.  We  wiere  torn  from,  her  dying  embrace  and 
huitried  off  into  captifvity,  the  chieif 's  wife  dragging  me  to 
her  horse  and  clinginig  to  me  with  a  tenacious  grip.  She 
was  at  first  savage  and  vicious  looking,  but  for  some  cauisie 
her  wicked  nature  isoon  relaxed,  and  f olidlinig  me  in  iher  arm^, 
she  gently  smootbedi  back  my  hair,  indiciatimig  that  she  was 
very  proud  of  her  suffering  victim.  A  white  man,  with  aU 
the  cruel  instincts  of  the  savage,  was  with  them.  Several 
timies  they  threatened  to  curt;  dff  our  hands  and  feet  if  we 
did  not  stop  crying.  Then  the  woman,  in  savage  tone-s  and 
gesitures  would  scold,  and  they  would  ©ease  their  cruel 
threats.  We  were  captured  just  as  the  sun  was  setting  and 
were  resicued  the  n-ext  morning. 

"During  the  few  hours  we  were  prisoners  the  Indians 
never  stopped.  Slowly  and  stealthily  they  pushed  their  way 
tbirough  tihe  settlement  to  avoid  detection,  and  just  as  they 
halted  for  the  first  time  the  eoldiere  siuddenly  came  upon 
them  and  firin'g  commienced.  As  tho  battle  raged  the  Indi- 
ans "were  forced  to  take  flight.  Thereupon,  they  pierced  my 
little  broither  through  the  body,  and  strikinjg  me  with  some 
shairp  in«tnunenit  on  the  side  of  the  head,  they  le£t  us  for 
dead,  but  we  soon  recovered  sufficiently  to  find  ourselves 
alone  in  the  dark,  dense  forest,  wonnded  and  covered  with 
blood. 

"Having  been  taught  to  ask  God  for  all  things,  we  prayed 
to  O'ur  Heatvenlly  Father  to  take  care  otf  ua  and  direct  ns  out 
oi  that  Lonely  place.  I  lifted  tny  wounded  brother,  so  faint 
and  ino  weiak,  laind  we  soon  cam*  ta  the  edge  of  a  large 
prairie,  when  as  far  away  as  our  «wimmiug  eyes  could  see,  we 
discovered  a  eocm5)any  of  horseaneaa.  Supposing  them  to  be 
Indians,  frightened'  beyond  expreseion,  aaad  tremlbling  under 
my  heavy  burden,  I  rushed  back  with  him  into  the  woods, 
and  hid  behind  some  thick  bushes.     But  those  brave  men,  on 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  389 

tile  alert,  dashing  from  place  to  plac-e,  at  last  disoovered  us. 
Soon  we  heard  the  clatter  of  home*'  hoof®  and.  the  voices  of 
our  reecuers  icallicig  lus  by  name,  assuring  us  that  they  were 
our  friends  who"  had  come  to  taike  care  oif  us.  Lifting  the 
almost  uneonsiciousi  little  suffecper,  I  carried  ihim  out  to  them 
as  best  I  could.  Witih  all  tlie  tenderness  of  -women,  their 
eyes  suffused,  witii  teairs,  those  good  men  riai&ed  us  to  their 
saddles  and  hurried  off  to  camp,  whiere  we  received  every 
attention  and  kindness  that  mam  oouMi  bestoiw. 

^ '  I  was  seven  years  of  age  when  my  parents  were  mur- 
dered. Sixty  odd  years  have  passed'  since  then,  and  yet  my 
heart  girowa  faint  as  the  awful  tiane  pass-es  in  revieiw.  It  ia 
indelibly  stamped  upon  memory's  page  and  photographed 
so  deeply  upo«n  my  heart  that  time  with  sM.  its  elhanges  can 
neveo*  erase  it." 


LAST  RAID  INTO  ANDERSON  COUNTY. 

In  the  year  1843,  a  party  of  Indians,  about  ten  in  num- 
ber, [made  their  last  hostile  raid  in  the  territory  embraciag 
what  is  now  Anderson  county.  **"We  called  it  Burnet  county 
at  that  time,"  saya  pioneer  Capt.  "Wm.  R.  Russell  of  Har- 
per, Texas,  who  supplies  these  facta: 

"In  the  neighborhood  where  my  father  and  family  lived, 
near  Moujid  Praiirie,  they  stole  some  horses  and  killed,  and 
butchered  a  very  fat  ox,  belonging  to  David  Roberts.  Tak- 
ing the  greater  part  of  the  flesh  olf!  the  or,  they  left  in  a 
westward  direction.  My  father.  Col.  Lewis  M.  Russell,  head- 
ed a  party  of  citizeioa  and  followed  them.  They  crossed  the 
Trinity  River,  and  on  the  bank  of  the  river  loai  tlie  west  side, 
the  Indiana  stopped  and  pulled  off  the  shoes  from  the 
horses  and  cut  notches  in  the  front  of  the  horses'  feet,  so 
that  they  would  make  a  ttack  resembling  tiie  track  of  a  buf- 
falo. The  Indians  moved  on  westward  about  two  miles,  and 
stopped  to  barbecue  tiheir  beef.  The  scouts  sigjhted  the  In- 
dians at  tke  kead  of  a  raviae  that  led  into  the  river,  the 
ravioe  beai^  oMopleioly  aareloped  with  a  tkJMk  jmn^le  of 
brush,  briers  and  vieuea.    Tka  8e*uts  oharg^d  an  tkem,  but  the 


^80  BOEBfiK  WASg  OF  TfiXAS. 

Indians  made  good  th»eir  escape  down  the  ravine.  The  eeouta 
captured  all  their  horaea  aad  returned  horn*  without  firing 
again. " 


0AFT¥R1  OF  THl  «I1EP«0N  CHILDREN. 

A  "^v^idow  named  Simpson  lired  at  Austin.  Among  other 
children  she  had  a  girl,  Emma,  aged  abouV  fourteen  years, 
and  a  boy,  Thomas,  about  twelve  years  of  age.  During  the 
summer  of  1844,  about  4  o'clock  one  afternoon,  tftiese  ohild- 
^en  went  to  driv^  up  the  cow».  They  w€r«  on  the  dry 
branch,  He&r  trhere  Maj.  C.  L.  West's  residesnce  now  etandfi, 
when  their  mother  heard  iherti  icream.  She  i^equired  no  ex- 
planation of  the  cause;  she  kaeW  at  once  that  the  Indians 
ha;d  «aptured  her  darlinigs.  Sorrowing,  and  almost  heart-bro- 
ken, she  rushed  to  the  more  thickly  settled  part  o'f  the  town 
to  implore  eifizens  to  turn  otit  and  endeavor  to  recover  her 
children.  A  party  of  men  werg  loon  in  t2i«  laddie  aiid  on  th.e 
trail. 

They  diseov^^ed  tfiat  the  «av«^es  wer^  on  foot — f onr  in 
number — and  wei^  moving  in  |I^  tiiBb«r,  parallel  to  th-e  riv- 
er and  up  it.  They  fomnd  on  the  trail  shreds  of  the  gjirl'a 
dress,  yet  it  was  difficuQt  to  follow  the  footstepiB  of  t!he 
fleeing  red  men.  From  a  hill  they  deseriod  the  Indiana 
just  before  fthey  entered  the  ravine  below  Mount  BonneU. 
The  whitea  movied  at  a  run,  but  they  failed  to  overtake  tlie 
barbarians.  A  piece  of  an  undergarment  was  certain  evi- 
dence that  the  captors  had  parsed  over  Mount  Barker.  The 
reeky  surface  of  the  ground  precluded  the  possibility  of  fast 
trailing,  and  almost  the  possibility  of  trailing  at  aJL  Every 
conceivable  effort  was  made  to  track  tJhe  Indians,  and  aU 
proved  unavailing.  They  were  loath  to  return  to  Austin  to 
inform  the  grief-stricken  mother  her  loved  ones  were  indeed 
the  prisoners  of  savages,  and  would  be  subject  to  all  the 
brutal  cruelties  and  outrages  of  a  captivity  a  Iftiousand  times 
more  terrible  than  the  pangs  of  deafh.  The  scene  which  en- 
sued when  the  dread  news  reached  Mrs.  Simpson's  ears  can 
no-t  be  pictured  with  pen  or  pencil       No  science,     nor     art, 


BOEDER  WAfifl  OF  T£XAft.  201 

nor  deviee  known  to  man  tteuld  «oiapafi8  sueb  an  luiderflak- 
ing,  Tlie  wail  of  iai^ny  and  d-espair  rent  the  air,  and  t«ars 
of  «ympatihy  were  wnung  from  th«  frontiersmen  wh.o  never 
quailed  w>lien  danger  came  in  it*  most  fearful  form. 

In  about  on«  year  Tboma«  Simpaon  was  restored  to  bis 
mother.  He  had  been  purebased  from  the  Indians  by  a 
trader  at  Taos,  New  Mexico.  From  him  many  particulars  of 
the  capture  wiere  obtained.  He  said  hie  sister  fought  the  In- 
diana all  tlie  timje.  They  carried  her  by  foroe,  dragging 
her  frequjently,  tore  her  clothing  and  bandied  her  roughly. 
Thomaa  was  led  by  two  Indians.  He  of&red  iw  resistance, 
knowing  he  would  be  killed  if  !b»e  did. 

When  tbe  Indians  di»eover€ki  thiey  w^Jre  being  followed, 
they  doubled,  coming  back  rather  in  tfiie  direction  of  Austin. 
They  ma^ie  a  ihoirrt  halt  mot  far  firom  HojUu.  Jiohnj  Hancock  'a 
place.  Thomas  begged  his  «ister  not  to  r^ist,  and  told  her 
such  a  course  would  cause  her  to  be  puf  to  deat^.  She  was 
eventually  separated  f  rOm  bim.  When  the  Indians  who  had 
her  in  charge  rejoined  their  companions,  young  Simpson  saw 
his  sister  *«  toalp  dangling  from  a  warrior 's  belt.  No  one  will 
ever  know  the  dietailA  of  the  bloody  deed.  But  a  knowledge 
of  Indian  customs  justifies  tthe  belief  that  the  sacrifice  of  an 
innocent  lif^  involved  incidents  of  a  more  revolting  charactfer 
than  mere  tourder.  It.  the  cd^urste  of  time  the  bones  of  the 
unfortunatfe  girl  were  found  near  the  place  where  Mr.  George 
Davds  erected  his  resid'ence,  and  to  that  ei^nt  corroborat- 
ed the  account  of  Thomas  Simpson. 

It  is  no  difficult  mattfer  to  conceive  what  were  the  im- 
pressions produced  upon  parents  then  living  in  Austin  by 
this  event.  It  is  easy  tb  ima.gine  how  vivid  the  conviction 
must  have  been  that  their  sons  and  daugh^rs  might  become 
the  victims  of  similar  misfortunes,  sufferings  and  outrages. 
I/et  the  reader  extend  tthe  idea,  and  include  the  whole  fron- 
tier of  Texas  in  a  scope  extending,  as  it  then  did,  from  Red 
River  to  the  Rio  Orande,  a  sinuous  line  upon  the  outer  tiers 
of  settlements,  and  including  a  liirge  extent  of  the  Gulf 
coast.  Let  him  remember  tlhat  the  country  was  then  so 
sparcely  populated  it  was  quite  all  frontier,  and  open  Ho  in- 


392  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS 

cursians  of  tlie  merciless  tribes  who  made  war  upon  women 
and  children,  land  flourished  the  tfomahawk  land  the  scalp- 
ing knife  in  tiie  bedrooms  and  tlie  boudoirs,  as  well  as  in  the 
forests,  and  upon  Hie  bosom  o.f*.  th'C  prairie,  iWhen  he  shall 
have  done  this,  he  dam  form  an  approximate  conception  of 
the  privations  and  perils  endured  by  the  pioneers  who  re- 
claimed Texas  from  the  dominion  of  the  Indian,  and  maxie  it 
the  abode  of  civilized  men. 


BRUTAL  MURDER  OF  CAPT.  KEMPER  AND  PERILOUS 
ESCAPE  OF  HIS  FAMILY. 

The  reader  has  already  learned  in  the  opening  chap  tiers 
of  this  work,  much  of  the  troubles  of  the  early  settlers  wilih 
the  ferocious  tribe  of  Oaranchua  Indians,  and  of  their  final 
expulsion  and  fate.  The  last  notable  hostiile  act  of  this  tribe 
was  the  murder  of  Capt.  John  Frederick  Kemper,  at  his 
ranch  home,  ** Kemper's  Bluff,"  on  the  Guadalupe  River, 
in  Victoria  county.  This  hardy  pioneer  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  but  came  from  Tennesgee  to  Texas  in  1836, 
having  been  previously  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza 
Miller,  daughter  of  Ool.  Miller,  who  brought  volunteers 
to  the  Texaa  army  three  separate  t^es — the  first  as  early 
as  the  year  1835.  CapU  Kemper  waa  in  command  of  an  artil- 
lery company  in  Colonel  Miller's  regiment.  The  command 
was  made  prisoners  of  war  at  Copano,  immediately  after  Fan- 
nin's disasittoua  battle  of  the  Cfelito;  were  seipiairatedi  ainid 
spared  from  the  inhuman  masaaere  perpetrated  a  few  days 
afterwards. 

Captain  Kemper  setftled  at  Kemper's  Bluff  in  1845. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  llhe  family  consisted  of  himself,  wife 
and  two  children,  Amanda  jMie,  aged  three  years,  and 
James,  aged  fire  months.  Mrs.  Ifiller  "waa  also  presenl,  lOn  a 
visit  with  her  dao^ter. 

The  killing  of  C-apt.  Keinf)er  by  tiho  Caraachixaa  oo- 
curred  in  NoretaVar,  I84i.  Abo«t/  S  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
the  tsileh  e«wB  w«re  seeii  mmwLmg  i&  the  p«B^  purwied  by  a 
party  of  hutimmM,    O^itda  Ke^ipmr^  ga&  in  kand^  aieppeKi 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS  393 

outside  the  house  and  motionijed  them  to  desist?;  their  only 
reply  was  a  volley  .of  arrows,  one  of  which  took  effect, 
striking  lihe  captiain  in  the  shoulder,  back  of  the  collar  bone 
and  passing  out  beneatlli  the  shoulder  blade.  He  re-entered 
the  house,  Mrs.  Miller  pulling  the  arrow  out  of  t!h'e  wound, 
and  ^expired  in  a  few  minutes.  The  Indiaaos  came  about  the 
house,  not  venturing,  however,  in  front  of  the  only  door. 
Mrs.  Kemper  fired  a  gun  at  them  once  through  a  crack  be- 
tween tihe  logs,  but  was  ignorant  as  to-  the  effect  of  the  dis- 
charge. About  dark  the  red  devils  procured  a  quantity  of 
dry  moss,  which  t'hey  placed  under  the  floor  and  fired.  Mrs. 
Kemper  raised  a  plank  and  Mrs.  Miller  extinguished  the 
flames  by  pouring  on  them  a  pail  of  water.  They  then  left 
the  house,  and  with  the  timber  for  a  guide,  proceeded  to  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Alouzo  Bass,  on  tlh-e  Calito,  about  twelve 
miles  distant,  arriving  at  3  o  'clock  in  the  morning.  Their 
mournful  fliglit  was  through  a  dark,  rainy  nighU — and  later 
accompanied  by  a  fierce  norther.  The  party  that  went  down 
the  next  day  to  inter  the  remains  of  Capt.  Kemper,  found 
the  house  robbed  of  all  articles  esfceemed  of  value  by  the  sav- 
ages. Feather  beds  were  emptded'  of  their  contents  and  the 
crockery  was  all  broken.  Upon  their  departure,  4he  fiends 
laid  a  brand  of  fire  upon  the  breast  of  their  victim,  the  sig- 
ndficanee  of  which  is  left  tJo  tlie  elucidation  of  those  more 
conversant  with  the  lore  of  tihe  aborigines. 

The  venerable  Colonel  Miller  died  at  Victoria,  Feb.  16, 
1862.  Mrs.  Kemper  resided  but  a  short  time  at  Kemper's 
Bluff  aftler  her  husband's  death.  Amanda  J.  was  married  to 
Mr.  David  F.  Williams  in.  Victoria,  Nov.  4,  1868. 


THE  LATSB  OOL^JniS  JJTD    TSONTISB    2XPAir£I01C. 

Elsewhere  we  kave  briefly  noticed  the  early  colony 
grants  tlo  Austin,  Edwarda,  DeWitt,  Robertson,  and  otJhers, 
which  were  in  fof>ce  ind  building  durin'g  the  period  of  Mex- 
ican donu»»ti«ti  ever  Americen  Texas — 1822  to  1836.  The 
promotion  and  earryiag  out  of  these  contlracts  by  the  en- 
terprisiuig  eaprerwirios,  of  toune,  r«iTilt«d  in  the  more  rapid 


394  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXA;^. 

s«^tll«inent  of  t'he  country  and  the  expansion  ot  its  fro-n- 

tiers. 

A  f tier  the  revolution  anA  the  establishnren't  of  independ- 
ence, quite  a  tdde  of  emigration  flowed  into  iThe  new  and 
famed  Lone  Star  Republic,  and  many  daring  and  adTenturous 
spirits  drifted  in,  and  fearlessly  abode  at*  San  Antonio,  Cor- 
pus Christi,  and  at  other  points  Along  the  exposed  frontier— 
along  and  up  the  Colorado  and  the  Brazos,  and  even  to  Red 
River  on  the  fearfully  exposed  northern  boundary.  But 
during  the  first  half  of  the  Republic's  ten  years  eiietenee  no 
regular  colony  contracts  of  any  consequence  were  m>ade. 
On  Feb.  4,  1841,  however,  an  act  was  passed  authorizing  t!he 
President  toi  enltetr  intK>  oontraetta  for  the  colonization  of 
wild  lands  in  Northwest  and  Southwest  Texas — ^tlhe  act  be- 
ing amended.,  with  more  liberal  and  encouraging  conditions, 
on  Jan.  1,  1843. 

Under  this  law,  as  originally  enacted,  President  Lamar, 
on  Aug.  30,  1841,  entiered  into  the  contract  for  w'Jiat  became 
known  as  the  famous  Peitler'a  Colony,  in  North  Texas.  The 
east  line  of  this  grant  ran  from  the  mouth  of  Big  Mineral 
Creek,  in  Grayson  count(^,  due  south,  passing  about  ten  miles 
east  of  Dallas,  to  a  point  in  the  eastern  part  of  Ellis  coun- 
ty, and  thence  west  and  north  fk>  Red  River,  embracing  a 
large  district  of  the  best  lands  in  Noa*tai  Texas.  "Begin- 
ning in  1842,"  says  Jojin  Henry  Brown,  '*ili  was  rapidly  set- 
tled, chiefly  by  farmers  from  Missouri,  Illinois,  Indiana, 
Kenfccky,  Tennessee,  and  other  states.  It  has  developed  in 
the  fifty  years,  (Brown  wrofe  twenty  years  ago.  The  in- 
crease in  population  and  strides  of  progress  during  lihis  pe- 
riod has  been  even  greater  than  the  preeediaig  half  centu- 
ry) ,  despite  bloody  Indian  wars,  the  Civil  War  and  the  ca- 
lamities following,  into  the  wealthiest  and  most  populous 
portion  of  the  State,  in  which  are  comprehended  the  whole 
or  large  parts  of  the  counties  of  Grayson,  Collin,  Dallas, 
Cooke,  Montague,  Wise,  Parker  and  several  others  on  the 
west. ' ' 

The  injducementt    offered  to  setltlers  in  this  colony  was 


BOaDEH  WAB8  OF  TKXAS.  395 

a  ;headriglit  of  640  aerea  to  tke  h^a^irt  of  families,  and  320 
acres  to  <ea6h  single  man— fiftie  «ompany  reft^iving  its  pay  in 
lib^al  premium  land«  lying  further  west.  In  tt^e  sequel  to 
'this  T6ltim« — ^*' Texas  Frontier  Historj" — th«  triak  endured 
and  the  dangers  encountered  and  combatted  by  these  brave 
settlerB  m  defense  of  their  ho^mies,  as  w<ell  as  the  similar 
trouble*  of  eolonists  in  other  of  the  later  settlements,  along 
the  expanding  frontier,  wUl  b«  fiillj  noted. 

Tii«  Mero^"  Colony,  attemjrted  about  ftMa  time  -^  the 
grant  cohering  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Kaufman 
and  Bom«  adjoining  counties — was  &ot  at  firatt  successful. 
•Bat  the  ^iterprise  at  least  serred  to  augment  t^e  Peters  set- 
tlements, where  most  of  Merger '■  «olonisti  re-eettled. 

About  ih%  time  tliat  the  Pctei*    Colony  was  gotten  un- 
der headway,  another  important,  and     finally     prosperous, 
aettlement,  known  aa  the  Casti^o  Co^lony,  was  commenced    in 
the    '•tfuthwestem    part  of  the  Bepnblie.     Henri  de  Castro 
Wtfi    a    Weialthy,    highly  enlightened  and  noble  F^enehman. 
On  January  15,  1842,  he  contria^ted  with  President  Houston 
;for  settling  a  eolony  of  his  countrymen    and  others  in  the 
fertile  praSrses  weAt  of  the  Medina  River.  At  gireiat  expense 
— more  than  $150,000 — for  ship  transportation  (at  different 
times  and  in  all,  37  ship^  were   chartered)    and     conveyance 
overland,  Castro  brought  over  and  settled  dnring  the  period 
oi  Ms  leig-ht  years  oon^tract,  over  5,000  immigrants,    ''farm- 
era,  orehardists,  and   vine-growers,  chiefly  from  the  Rhenish 
provdmees. "     Hhe®e  people  he  snBtaianed  and  fted  at  his  own 
expense    till  they  could  prepare  homes  and  lands  and  raise 
food  crops,  and  get  a  foothold  in  tlie  new  country,  whither 
they  bad  ^  confidently  followed  their  benefactor  and  noble 
leader;  and  whose  prototype  is  found  only  dn  his  predeces- 
sor, the  great  empresario,  Austin.     Space  prevents  a  narra- 
tion of  the  troubles  of  these  colonists  dnring  the  first  yea^rs 
— harassed,     as  they  were,     by  both  Indians  and  Mexicans 
— ^and  but  for  the  constant  vigilance   of  Capt.  Jack   Hays 
and  his  brave  ran^rs,  who  so  faithfully  patrolled  that  ex- 
posed section,  they  must  have  failed  and  perished. 


396  BORDER  WARS  OP  TEXAS. 

Speaking  of  Hays  and  his  rangers  during  this  period,  the 
noble  old  Franco- Texan  empresario,  Henry  Castro,  says: 

"X  take  this  occasion  to  do  justice  tO'  Captiain  Jack 
Hays  and  his  noble  company.  They  were  equal  to  any  emer- 
gency, but  such  a  company  can,  in  my  opinion,  only  be  com- 
pared to  tie  old  Musketeers  of  Louis  XIV,  who  represented 
the  chivalrous  gentleman  soldiers  o-f  Prance.  Hays  and  his 
men  represented  the  true  and  chivalrous,  disinterested  Amer- 
ican 'geintlemain  soMieir,  who  at  all  times  w&s  read;y  to  shed 
the  last  drop  of  his  blood  for  his  country  and  the  protection 
of  the  feeble." 

At  every  opportunity  tlie  Indians  harassed  these  ex- 
posed colonists,  and  from  the  !timo  they  get  foot  on  land 
and  began  their  journey  overland,  and  mostly  afoot,  to  their 
wild  prairie  homes,  they  were  beset  with  dangers.  "In  the 
rear  of  one  of  their  first  emigrating  parties,  the  Indians 
forty  miles  below  San  Antonio,  attacked  and  burned  a  wag- 
on. The  driver,  an  American,  rifle  in  hand,  reached  a  thick- 
et, and  killed  several  of  thte  Indians ;  but  they  killed  a  boy 
of  nineteen — a  Frenchman — and  cuttiog*  off  his  head,  nailed 
it  to  ta  tree.  In;  the  burmt  wagon  was  a  trunk  containing  a 
considerable  amount  of  gojld  and  silver.  In  the  ashes  the  sil- 
ver was  found  melted,  the  g-old  only  blackened."* 

Th-e  bounding  and  sustainng  of  the  Castro  Colony  in 
that  remote  and  exposed  section  was  indeed  a  bold  sftep. 
John  Henry  Brown  says:  "He  confronted  dangers  unknown 
to  the  first  American  colonists  in  16122,  for  besides  hostile 
savages,  now  accustomed  to  the  use  of  firearms,  it  challenged 
inroads  from  the  whole  Bio  Grande  Mexican  frontier,  which 
in  1822,  furnished  friends  and  not  enemies  to  foreign  settle- 
ments in  Texas. 

An  interesting  rolume  could  be  written  deecriptiye  of 
the  efforts  of  Henry  Castro  to  settle  his  colony,  then  ex- 
posed to  the  attacks  of  bandit  and  guerilla  Mexicans,  but  k 
little  H;o  its  west,  aad  to  all  the,  hostile  ladiana  north  and 
west  of  hia  proposed  settlement.    It  was    an    •ahiov«nient 

»Br*ini'i  ■Iat«r7  of  Texas. 


BOEDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  397 

tntatling  the  name  of  Castro  to  be  enrolled  among'  the  most 
prominent  pioneers  of  civilization  in  modern  times.  Yet 
tlie  youth  of  todaj^,  joyously  and  peacefuljly  galloping  over 
the  beautiful  hills  and  valleys  he  rescued  from  savagery, 
are  largely  ignoipant  of  his  great  services. 


The  contract  entered  into  by  President  Houston  with 
Fisher  and  Miller,  for  what  betciame  known  as  tlie  German 
Colony,  and  which  grant  covered  the  beautifull  mountain 
seetions  drained  by  the  Perdenales,  Llano,  San  Saba  and 
t|he  lower  Conchos,  after  passing  to  the  management  of 
"The  German  Immigration  Company,"  also  proved  success- 
ful— though  perhaps  fraught  with  more  dangers  and  tribula- 
tions tthan  that  of  any  other  of  the  later  colony  enterprises. 

A  large  naimber  of  industrious  settlers  were  introduced 
between  1844  and  1848,  who  followed  the  pursuits  of  stock 
raising  and  farming,  and  eventuajlly  triumphed  over  the  hos- 
tile savages  who  domiciled,  as  it  were,  in  their  very  midst, 
infesting  every  valley  and  mountain.  But  the  fierce  con- 
flicts of  these  brave  German  pioneers  hardly  come  within 
.the  period  of  time  alloted  to  this  volume. 

Thus  was  the  spirit  of  emigtraitfiioin)  again  B&t  in  motion, 
aaid  oooitiiued,  wth  imcrteiaisdnjg  volume  and  energy. 


THE  REPUBLIC  OF  TEXAS  IS  NO  MORE. 

And  now  we  have  arrived  at  that  period  in  Texas  hi^o- 
ry  which  marks  the  close  of  the  Lone  Star  Republic,  and 
with  it  we  shall  conclude  the  present  compendjium  of  bor- 
der annals,  having  closely  followed  the  doings  of  the  brave 
pioneers  from  the  day  of  their  first  advent  under  Austin; 
during  the  uncertain  colonial  period  and  on  down  through 
tlie  dark  years  of  the  Republic,  constantly  struggling  for 
an  existence,  and  fighting  the  common  foes,  botli  Indians 
and  Mexican^,  till  they  finally  triumphed,  and  won  a  great 
state  to  American  civilization,  eommerce  and  education.  Of 
the  further  affairs  of  Texas  as  a  State  and  of  her  contin- 
ued struggle  with  the  red  men  for  master^'  and  frontier  ex- 


398  t56t^3(^  WARS  QfF  f^XAS. 

pansion,  the  rea-dt^r  will  be  told  in  a  seooad  volume,  mnder 
the   title — "Tesas  Frontier  History." 

Of  the  fortunes  of  the  Lone  Star  Repnblie,  it  may  be 
said  that  for  nearly  ten  years  it  proudly  claimed  an  exist- 
ence, and  strugg^'led  forward  in  financial  straits  and  under 
all  sorts  of  most  adverse  circumstances,  as  one  of  the  inde- 
pende^nt  nations  of  the  wor^ld.  Nothing-  but  the  wise  and 
careful  councilings  of  her  statesmen.,  chief  among  whom 
was  the  great  Sam  Houston,  and  the  determined  valor  of  pa- 
triotic and  fearless  defenders  in  the  mighty  contjest  aLl 
along  ,her  extended  and  exposed  borders,  saved  and  upheld 
the  young  nation — a  feat  that  astonished  mankind,  and  is 
well  reckoned  as  one  of  the  ancmalies  ,of  the  world's  (histo- 
ry. A  vast  empire  reclaimed  from  a  wilderness,  of  savagery, 
andl  wrested  from  a  grasping  and  populous  nation ;  and  then 
held  against  both  Mexican  and  Indian  claimants.  All  this, 
too,  by  a  mere  handful  of  fearless  pioneers — that  bold  lit^e 
body  of  buckskin-clad  and  poorly  fed  border  troopers  and 
dasih'LU'g  ramigers,  in  their  constant  strife  and  bold,  wonderful 
exploits — the  like  of  which  the  world  has  never  before  or 
since  witmieisised. 

The  history  of  every  state  in  the  American  Union  is 
tinged  with  the  life's  blood  of  (their  early  settlers'  and  pio- 
neers in  their  struggles  for  possession  over  and  against  the 
red  men.  In  no  land  or  country  was  this  strife  waged  with 
more  bitteirnesist  and  ciruelty,  and  bloodthirsty  stubborin- 
ness  than  in  our  own  Texas;  beginning,  as  it  did,  in  the  open 
ing  chapter  of  its  pioneer  history,  and  carried  on  with  re- 
lentless and  determined  fury,  as  it  was,  for  more  than  half  a 
century — ending  only  in  recent  times. 

Referring  to  internal  affairs  and  the  condition  of  Tex- 
as with  regard  to  her  Indian  foes  at  the  time  of  annexa- 
iton,  land  her  ability  to'  cope  with  this  foe,  Garrison  (''Tex- 
as," p.  271-2)  says:  *'It  was  possible  for  the  United  States 
to  protect'  the  Sliate  from  invasion,  but  Texas  had  an  enemy 
that  was  practically  witlhin,  her  ga%s,  with  whom  it/  was 
mudih  more  dif:0icult  to  deal.  This  was  the  Indian.  The 
tribes  inslide  the  limits  of  the  State  on  tJhe  north  made  fre- 
quent raids  into  the  country  south,  of  Red  River  and  were 


BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS.  399 

verj  troublesome.  Of  course,  the  most  annoying  Indians, 
now  as  of  old,  were  the  Comanches,  along  the  western,  fron- 
tier, who  liked  especially  to  kill  and  scalp  Mexicans,  but 
Were  willing  on  occasion  to  accept  a  Texas  victim.  "The  in- 
terior was  protected  with  tolerable  effectiveness  from  their 
ravages  by  the  advance  line  otf  settlements,  yet  at  Ao  little 
cost  to  the  settlers  themselves.  They  were  the  brave 
hand  with  which  the  deadly  blows  of  savagery  must  be  re- 
ceived and  warded  oflf.  The  State  employed  its  ranger 
force  to  good  advantage,  but  it  was  difficult  to  prevent  or 
anticipate  an  Indian,  raid,  and  the  line  of  exposure  was  sev- 
eral hundred  miles  in  length. ' '  <' 

The  circumstan,ces  invited  the  application  of  the  system 
oj£  colonizing  the  Indians  on  reservations,  and  in  1855,  the 
State  having  set  apart  the  necessary  lands,  most  of  the  Tex- 
as tribes  were  induced  to  locate  on  reservations  under  the 
protection  and.supervision  of  agents — one  on  the  upper  Braz- 
os and  ome  on  its     tributary  kno^\^  als  Sialt  Foa-k. 

In  regard  to  affairs  and  conditions  of  the  Republic  dur- 
ing the  adminstraton  of  President  Anson  Jones — Dec.  9th, 
1844,  to!  Feb.  19th,  1846^Hisitoraan  Wooton  says:  "During 
tlhat  period  there  was  but  one  Congress,  the  Ninth,  which 
met  in  regular  session  tJie  first  Monday  in  December,  1844, 
and  adjourned  Februarj^  3,  1845,  and  again  convened  in  spe- 
cial session  on  June  16,  which  continued  until  June  24. 
Aside  (from  the  usual  legislation  necessary  to  perfect  the 
laws  and  run  the  government,  tDiere  was  no'  incident  oif  spe- 
cial importWnee  in  the  acts  of  the  Ninth  Congress.  The 
country  was  at  peace,  bot/h  at  home  and  abroad ;  the  popu- 
lation was  rapidly  increasing,  there  was  the  prospect  of  ear- 
ly annexation,  to  the  kindred  states  of  the  north,  and  t)he 
finances  were  so  improK^ed  that  the  Republic's  paper  was  at 
par,  while  there  was  a  cash  balance  in  fhe  'treasury  suffi- 
cient to  operate  the  government  for  two  years  without  a  dol- 
lar o!f  additional  receipts." 

The  destiny  of  the  giant  Republic  of  M^  Lone  Star  was 
foreordained,  as  it  were,  however,  and  its  people  t^nrnestly 
sought  union  with  the  land  of  freedoto — preferring  the  flow- 
er of  statehood  to!  the  pompous-sounding    title    of  republic. 


40O  BORDER  WARS  OF  TEXAS. 

The  bill  introduced  for  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  Unit- 
ed States,  having  received  the  approval  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  February  25,  and  a,  favorable  majority  vote 
having  obtained  on  March  1,  1845,  the  measure  was  &ign,ed 
i — being  one  of  the  very  last  official  acts  of  President  John 
Tyleir — aind  Feb.  19,  1846,  Tiesais  beicame  a  State. 

The  dream  of  the  Austins  had  eomle  to  pasisi;>  Sam  Hous- 
ton had  realized  his  far-planned  hopes  and  won  immortal 
fame;  tihe  matchless  pioneers  had  triumphed;  a  vast  domain 
had  been  established  in  the  far  and  wild  southwest;  it®  po- 
sition well  defined  and  ably  maintained,  till  voluntarily  sur- 
rendered and  added,  to  the  galaxy  of  statlesi — ^to  continue  in 
growth,  progress  and  grandeur,  forever  most  resplendent. 
Thie  deed  was  one  of  great  monieni,  anjd  it  thrills,  as  one 
reflects  —  stands  in  vivid  imagination  with  the  vast 
thronig  assembled  otni  that  mem-onable  locaasion,  lisltening  to 
the  silvery  ringing  and  swelling  oratory  of  Anson  Jones, 
the  out-going  and  last  President  Off  the  Republic  lof  Texas, 
ais  he  delivered  hisi  valedi)c!tory,  concluding  with  the  signifi- 
cant but  solemn  utteranee:  "The  final  act  in  the  great 
drama  is  now  performed.  The  Republic  of  Texas  is  no 
more." 

THE  END. 


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